A fire destroyed a Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) medical equipment warehouse in Tracy, California, on Thursday, sending thick black smoke into the air and prompting evacuations at nearby industrial facilities.
The blaze broke out at the company’s 1 million-square-foot distribution center and spread to a nearby FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) facility, where firefighters stopped further damage, according to local authorities, ABC News reported.
Officials evacuated parts of the industrial park, which also includes Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) distribution centers, as strong winds increased the risk of spreading embers. Medline said all employees and personnel were accounted for.
Tracy Mayor Dan Arriola said the fire fully engulfed the Medline facility but remained far from residential areas. No homes were evacuated.
Fire Chief Randall Bradley said firefighting efforts were hindered by an apparently malfunctioning sprinkler system and low water pressure at the warehouse. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and monitoring air quality in the area.
