“Hundreds of millions in losses” after massive, “highly unusual”, 3-alarm blaze at Redlands distribution center
REDLANDS, Calif. — Fire agencies from throughout San Bernardino County and other surrounding communities spent much of the day battling a massive, three-alarm blaze that ripped through a Redlands distribution warehouse early Friday morning, June 5.
The fire happened at a large, 600,000-square-foot commercial building that housed Amazon products and was home to Kuehne and Nagel; a third-party operator that helps Amazon ship extra-large items to customers.
Although no injuries were reported after the fire, the blaze caused “hundreds of millions” in property damage and inventory losses, according to fire officials.
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Yesterday’s blaze was the second 3-alarm fire to rip through a Redlands location in as many months, after a May 2 blaze that destroyed a large, pyramid-shaped structure at the vacant Splash Kingdom. That fire caused nearly $1 million in damages, officials reported at the time.
Although both buildings – which are situated directly adjacent each other, were equipped with fire suppression systems – neither the sprinklers or fire alarms activated in either fires, both of which erupted at 5:30 a.m., according to officials familiar with both incidents.
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City of Redlands Fire personnel were first alerted to the destructive blaze around 5:30 a.m., Redlands Fire officials have since reported.
Prior to the Fire Department’s arrival about 100 employees were able to evacuate the distribution center, which is on the 2200 block of W. Lugonia Ave.
“Arriving crews found heavy flames and plumes of thick black smoke that, at one point, could be seen from nearby mountain communities rising above the cloud layer,” explained officials.
The massive flames were also clearly visible from nearby Interstate 10 and California Highway Patrol was forced to close both directions of travel to early morning commuters.
Officials have estimate property damages and inventory losses to be in the millions, after a massive blaze tore through a 600,000-square-foot Amazon distribution warehouse occupied by Kuehne and Nagel, a third-party operator that helps Amazon ship extra-large items to customers. Redding FD photo
With firefighters, ladder trucks, engines, and other fire apparatus from multiple surrounding fire departments and public safety agencies, along with AMR ambulance crews on standby and utility crews also on hand, Redlands PD was called in to provide traffic control.
Soon, ladder trucks from multiple agencies could be seen encircling the massive structure, while firefighters continued pouring water on the building for several hours.
Although the blaze was brought under control by late afternoon, several hot spots continued burning inside the remaining walls of the structure and fire crews remained at the scene throughout the evening.
No other structures were damaged according to Redlands Fire Chief Jim Topoleski, who later said, “We are extremely grateful to our allied agencies for their support.”
Firefighters are planning on entering the destroyed building over the coming days to fully extinguish the fire and continue their investigation into the cause and origin of the blaze.
However, with the structural integrity of the building a major concern, the building’s owners have begun formulating plans to stabilize the structure while preparing to dismantle it.
Yesterday’s fire sent walls of flames soaring hundreds of feet into the sky and at one point plumes of thick black smoke could be seen rising above the cloud layer from nearby mountain communities. Redding FD photo
One employee, Chris Smith, told CBSLA that when the enormous fire ripped through the large warehouse he did not see sprinklers activate or hear any fire alarms.
“I didn’t hear no fire alarms, I didn’t see no fire sprinklers, nothing,” said Smith.
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“That is highly concerning, we’re looking at a modern building with the latest advances installed inside the building regarding fire protection systems,” Topoleski told CBSLA.
“It’s highly concerning,” the fire chief continued. “That’s why we’re bringing in outside resources to help us look at the cause and origin.”
While making no connections to the Splash Kingdom fire, Topoleski also said the speed at which the fire spread in such a large building was “highly unusual.”
Topoleski also reported that fire investigators have begun collecting security video from inside and around the warehouse, hoping the footage may be able to shed light on what caused the blaze.
“We are glad everyone is safe, and thankful for the efforts of the local firefighters and first responders,” Amazon later said in a written release that also said the company “will support (Kuehne and Nagel) throughout this process” as they prepare to move forward.
Amazon also said the company expected “minimal” impact to customer’s orders.
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.
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Has there been any update as to what caused the fire? It’s been 11 days hasn’t it? Any word? Do we have a fire bug in that area?