Toxic Smoke Lingers Over Tracy After Massive Medline Warehouse Fire

The fire at the Medline facility, located 55 miles east of San Francisco, began Thursday and quickly overwhelmed local responders. South San Joaquin County Fire Authority Chief Randall Bradley confirmed that the operation is expected to stretch through the coming days. Firefighting efforts have been significantly hampered by a failing internal suppression system; although the building’s sprinklers were reportedly cleared by an outside inspector in January, they failed to provide adequate water flow during the emergency.

Officials are now coordinating with structural engineers and company representatives to secure the site and determine the cause of the disaster. While investigators work, the public is barred from the area, and authorities have issued a stark warning against handling any debris scattered by the blaze. The warehouse, a critical hub for surgical instruments and protective equipment, remains a hazardous zone as smoke continues to blanket the city’s south side.