Overview
- The blaze started on the roof of Medline’s roughly 1‑million‑square‑foot distribution center and rapidly engulfed the building, which fire authorities have declared a total loss.
- All on‑site personnel were evacuated and accounted for, nearby warehouses were cleared as a precaution, and crews contained spot fires that ignited from windblown embers.
- Firefighters said the facility’s sprinkler system did not operate and interior hydrants had low pressure, forcing a large mutual‑aid response and an extended exterior suppression operation.
- The fire sent thick black smoke across the Central Valley that public‑health officials say contains respiratory irritants, toxic gases, carcinogens and at least one reported neurotoxin, prompting indoor‑shelter advisories.
- Medline activated contingency distribution plans to reroute inventory while crews work for days to fully extinguish hotspots and officials assess the scope of lost stock and regional supply impacts.