Pallet Yard Fire Causes Millions In Damage, Destroys Buildings

A pallet yard fire at the Ramirez pallet yard in San Bernardino County, California caused millions of dollars in damages over the weekend.

Speaking to The Mercury News San Bernardino County fire spokesman Chris Prater revealed:

“This fire is currently under investigation. The actual estimated financial damage to the businesses hasn’t been calculated yet, but we believe it to be in the millions. ”

At least one firefighter was hospitalized after suffering from heat-related injury.

The fire grew large enough that firefighters were forced to evacuate people from nearby businesses and homes. As the pallet yard fire grew, a black plume of smoke could be seen from miles away.

The last time firefighters in the area responded to a five-alarm fire was in 2012 when yet another pallet yard went up in flames.

The fire was 95 percent contained by the late afternoon hours, but the evacuation was still in place after the fire destroyed one building at the pallet yard. The fire eventually jumped a fence and consumed another building belonging to California Cascase Industries.

Firefighters rushed to contain smaller spot fires that shot up in the vegetation that surrounded the business. Surrounding spot fires began as strong winds carried the flames outside of the pallet yard fire.

Also destroyed in the fire were three large big rigs that were used by the company to transport pallets.

The pallet yard fire emitted a strong glow of embers throughout the night and into the morning hours.