​Thanksgiving Day 2nd alarm Fire


    Late Thanksgiving Day, Firefighters responded to a 2nd alarm commercial fire at a pallet yard located on the 13700 block of Santa Ana Ave. in Fontana. Initial reports stated there were explosions coming from within the pallet yard. Upon arrival minutes later, firefighters found numerous stacks of pallets, some as high as 30 feet, encompassing about four acres, fully engulfed in fire. The business was surrounded on two sides by approximately 30 tractor trailers containing various type cargo. A tractor trailer was burning very close to a single story residence and was spreading towards an adjacent business. Firefighters quickly took action to keep the fire from reaching the home and adjacent commercial tire business.                            

The battle continued as the fire spread into rows of large size tires used on commercial grade heavy equipment.

Firefighters had to used Class "B" Foam to extinguish the tire fires. Within two and one half hours, over 65 firefighters from San Bernardino County Fire and partnering fire agencies (Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Upland & San Bernardino City) had the fire under control. The explosions were found to be coming from propane tanks and acetylene cylinders.

A Fontana Police Officer arrived on scene shortly after the fire erupted and was able to alert the sole occupant of the residence located to the front of the business and bring him to safety. The resident had been sleeping and was unaware of how dangerously close the fire came to the back side of the home.

One San Bernardino County Fire Fighter sustained a non life-threatening injury and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. There were no other injuries to civilians or further evacuations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by San Bernardino County Fire investigators.

The Thanksgiving 2nd alarm fire destroyed the pallet yard, including a workshop on the premises, as well as several tractor trailers and caused minor damage to a residence and moderate damage to the tire company. Firefighters are credited with saving well over $2 million in property and content. Preliminary fire damage and loss is estimated at over $3 million. Surrounding roads were closed until the early morning hours.

San Bernardino County Fire Inmate Hand Crew 15-2, as well as a San Bernardino County Fire Dozer, responded to the scene for overhaul and mop up operations, relieving firefighters and medic engines to return back to service. Numerous piles of pallets and other materials have to be broken up to make sure all fire is extinguished. Crews are expected to be on scene throughout the morning.

The public was asked to please stay out of the roadway and keep a safe distance when there is active fire, as you may get hurt and/or hinder firefighting efforts.