The cause of a massive fire at a Modesto pallet yard is under investigation, the Modesto Fire Department said on Saturday.
The blaze brought crews from across Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties Friday evening to get control of the fire burning in an industrial area of the city.
“Every alarm we had responded,” said Battalion Chief Jim Black. “It was a major fire for us.”
Black said the fire spread from the pallets to nearby power poles, tractor trailers and nearby businesses. The fire burned 200,000 wooden pallets and caused $1.2 million in damage.
“We had to stop the trains from coming because we had to lay hose across the train tracks,” Black said.
Limited access into the area and burning electrical lines brought additional obstacles to fire crews.