A colossal fire erupted Thursday at a million-square-foot medical supply distribution center in Tracy, California, engulfing the structure and spreading to an adjacent FedEx facility. Thick smoke billowed for miles, visible from considerable distances.
The blaze reportedly began on the roof of the Medline Distribution Center, located near Interstate 205, shortly before 1 p.m. Authorities, including local police, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol, coordinated the safe evacuation of all personnel from the building. No injuries were reported.
Tracy Fire Chief Randall Bradley described the firefighting efforts as exceptionally challenging due to aggressive fire spread, limited water supply, high winds, and high temperatures. The fire descended from the roof into the main warehouse and subsequently ignited the neighboring FedEx facility, though firefighters managed to contain the spread there.
Other nearby warehouses were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Officials from the San Joaquin County Fire Authority declared the Medline building a total loss. As of Thursday evening, the fire was still actively burning, and authorities had not yet provided updates on containment progress. The investigation into the cause of the fire cannot commence until the blaze is fully extinguished.
Medline confirmed that all employees and on-site personnel were accounted for and safe, stating they are cooperating fully with authorities to assess the impact. Despite the extensive smoke, air quality in the immediate vicinity was reported as good by the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District. However, sensitive individuals were advised to take precautions, such as using air purifiers, keeping windows closed, and wearing N95 masks if venturing outdoors, due to potential fine particulate matter pollution.
