A massive warehouse fire in Tracy, California, has caused significant disruptions to FedEx and Medline operations, potentially leading to delivery delays across Northern California. The fire broke out Thursday afternoon at a Medline distribution center in the Prologis International Park of Commerce, about an hour east of San Francisco.
By Friday morning, flames were still burning, and officials expect the fire to continue for several more days.
FedEx has paused operations at a nearby facility due to the fire, which caused some exterior damage but left the building structurally stable. The company warned customers of slight delays in mail and packages tied to its Tracy-area center while firefighters secure the area.
Medline, one of the nation's largest medical supply distributors, confirmed it lost the entire 1-million-square-foot facility and has activated backup distribution plans, redirecting shipments to secondary and tertiary centers across its regional network.
Tracy Fire Chief Randall Bradley reported that firefighters arrived around 1 p.m. Thursday to find flames rapidly spreading across the roof and interior.
Despite an aggressive attack, crews were hampered by limited water supply, high winds, high temperatures, and low humidity. "We could not hold the fire.
Eventually, we lost the entire million-square-foot building," Bradley said. The building's sprinkler system may not have been working properly, though the cause remains under investigation.
Video obtained by KCRA showed flames starting on a pallet high in storage racks before quickly spreading toward the roof.
All Medline employees and onsite personnel were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported. Fire crews are expected to remain on scene for multiple days to extinguish hotspots.
The facility is located among major logistics hubs, including Amazon, Best Buy, FedEx, and PepsiCo. Fire crews focused on protecting surrounding buildings as flames spread, and the fire reached pallets and big rig trailers on FedEx property, but structural damage to the building was prevented.
FedEx will resume operations once the area is declared safe, and Medline will continue shifting distribution through its network. Investigators will examine the fire's cause, including possible sprinkler issues.
The Stockton Record contributed to this report.