A massive warehouse fire in Tracy, California, is causing significant disruptions to FedEx operations and medical supply shipments across Northern California. The blaze, which broke out Thursday afternoon at a Medline distribution center in the Prologis International Park of Commerce, has forced FedEx to pause operations at a nearby facility and prompted Medline to activate backup distribution plans.
The fire tore through the roughly 1-million-square-foot facility, and by Friday morning, flames were still burning. Officials expect the fire to continue for several more days.
Tracy Fire Chief Randall Bradley reported that firefighters arrived around 1 p.m. Thursday to find flames rapidly spreading across the roof and interior.
An aggressive fire attack was hampered by limited water supply, high winds, high temperatures, and low humidity. Crews initially attempted an interior attack but were unable to contain the blaze.
"We could not hold the fire. Eventually, we lost the entire million-square-foot building," Bradley said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Bradley noted that the building's sprinkler system may not have been working properly, though officials will need to determine what happened to the water supply.
Video obtained by KCRA showed flames starting on a pallet high in storage racks before quickly spreading toward the roof. FedEx confirmed that its nearby facility sustained some exterior damage but remains structurally stable.
Operations are paused until fire crews clear the area. Customers may experience temporary delivery delays for mail and packages tied to the Tracy-area center.
Medline, one of the nation's largest medical supply distributors, said it has activated a command center and is redirecting shipments to secondary and tertiary distribution centers. The company's network is built to continue serving customers despite the loss.
The Medline facility sits among major logistics hubs, including Amazon, Best Buy, FedEx, and PepsiCo. Fire crews focused on protecting surrounding buildings as flames spread.
The fire reached pallets and big rig trailers on FedEx property, but crews prevented structural damage to the building. No injuries were reported, and Medline confirmed that all employees and onsite personnel were safely evacuated and accounted for.
Firefighters are expected to remain on scene for multiple days to extinguish hotspots. Investigators will examine the fire's cause, including possible sprinkler issues.
FedEx will resume operations once the area is declared safe, and Medline will continue shifting distribution through its network.