Fire at Modesto pallet yard spreads to buildings

MODESTO – Fire crews responded to a fire at a pallet yard in Modesto Friday night that spread to buildings, the fire department said.

Crews conducted an aerial water tower operation, using a water pipe from a ladder fire truck to put out the fire.

The fire was burning on Janopaul Avenue, near 7th and 9th streets. The fire produced a large column of black smoke, which could be seen from the city and Highway 99.

Perez Pallets, located at Janopaul Avenue and Sonora Avenue, told CBS News Sacramento that the fire started at another property and into its yard. The business is family-owned.

According to the Modesto Fire Department, the fire destroyed one vehicle and one unit on the property. It also consumed multiple tractor trailers, power poles, transformers, and approximately 200,000 wooden pallets. They said the wind caused the fire to spread to nearby properties and vegetation, with damages estimated to cost more than one million dollars.

7th and 9th Street were closed while crews battled the fire. One firefighter was injured while fighting the fire.

The Stanislaus Regional Fire Investigation Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.