A massive fire engulfed a medical-supply warehouse in southwest Tracy on Thursday afternoon, forcing evacuations, closing nearby roads and drawing firefighters from across San Joaquin County.
The fire was reported shortly before 1:45 p.m. in the 5700 block of Promontory Parkway, near Hansen Road. By 3 p.m., the Medline distribution center was fully engulfed and flames were threatening a second warehouse, according to the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority.
All employees and other personnel at the facility had been accounted for, Medline officials said.
“Medline can confirm a fire is occurring at our Tracy, California, distribution facility,” the company said in a statement to ABC7. “All Medline employees and on-site personnel are accounted for. We are coordinating closely with local authorities and first responders as we assess the fire’s impact and will share more details as they become available.”
The fire remained active as of 4:10 p.m., and access to the surrounding area was restricted to emergency personnel and authorized vehicles. Members of the public were asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes.
Promontory Parkway was closed while firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Current road closures are available through Perimeter Map.
Thick columns of black and gray smoke rose above the warehouse complex Thursday and could be seen from miles away. The distribution center is approximately 1 million square feet and supplies medical products to customers throughout Northern California and surrounding states, according to Medline’s website.
Firefighters remained at the scene with heavy equipment and assistance from multiple agencies, including the Stockton Fire Department, Mountain House Fire Department, Lathrop Manteca Fire District and Manteca Fire Department. Tracy police, American Medical Response and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. personnel also responded.
Tracy police said officers were assisting with evacuations, directing traffic and securing the perimeter around the fire.
Authorities also reported multiple fires in the area. Public safety personnel were sent to the nearby Tracy Hills neighborhood as a precaution, but officials said there was no threat to residents there as of Thursday afternoon.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, officials say. Authorities had also not provided an estimate of the damage as of late Thursday afternoon.
This is a developing story. Check back with Stocktonia for updates.