Developing…
A massive fire broke out around 3:40am Thursday morning at an industrial yard in Northwest Fresno. The fire is currently burning numerous power poles.
6 FFD engines are at the scene but they have taken a defensive stance. “We’re not allowing it to grow anymore,” Public Information Officer Pete Martinez told KMJ News. “We had to cut through some fence line, go over private property and cross some railroad tracks to fight the fire” Martinez said.
Photo credit: Fresno City Fire
Martinez says they will likely let the fire burn itself out. That could take several hours.
A giant smoke plume accompanied the blaze. Witnesses tell KMJ News that the smoke drifted as far south as Delano and Bakersfield – 100 miles away from the scene.
KMJ Meteorologist Kevan Ramer says the air quality is “moderate” but could worsen in parts of the valley as the fire continues to burn. At 8am valley air officials issued a health warning due to the particulate matter being released in the fire. The warning affects Fresno, Kings, Tulare Counties and portions of Kern County.
There is no cause yet.
Initial damages have been set between $1 and $3 million. Each power pole is valued at $200,000.
Stay tuned to KMJ News for live reports from the scene near Golden State and Brawley.
