A major fire broke out at a medical equipment warehouse in California, USA, resulting in thick black smoke rising into the sky. Authorities ordered the evacuation of nearby establishments and rushed to control the situation.
The fire began at the distribution center of Medline, a major provider of medical products and surgical equipment, in the city of Tracy, located about 88 kilometers east of San Francisco.
Police reported that most of the surrounding area had to be evacuated due to strong winds increasing the risk of sparks spreading to other locations. The warehouse is situated within a large industrial park that also houses distribution centers for Amazon, Home Depot, and FedEx.
A spokesperson for Medline stated that all employees and personnel in the area have been accounted for, with no reports of missing individuals. The company is coordinating closely with local authorities and emergency responders to assess the impact of the fire and will provide further updates as the situation develops.
The fire chief revealed that firefighting efforts have been challenging due to a malfunctioning sprinkler system in the building and water pressure from internal fire hydrants being lower than normal. The issue appears to stem from the warehouse's internal water system rather than the city’s, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause.
.source :AP
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