(TRACY, CA) - Though the massive Tracy Fire finally subsided on Jun 17, it has left far more questions than answers.
CalOSHA is currently classifying the Medline Tracy fire as an open safety complaint investigation following the massive fire that demolished the 1-million-square-foot facility on Jun 11. Just three days prior to the fire occurring, on Jun 8, a formal workplace safety report was filed to the state agency.
Photo Credit: South San Joaquin Fire Authority / Instagram
OSHA has not explicitly made official links between the Jun 8 complaint and the fire. While the South San Joaquin Fire Authority has finished fighting the fire, they are also still actively investigating the cause of the incident.
What is also known at this point is that the Fire Sprinkler failed to activate during the fire, prompting firefighters to connect to the municipal water system.
South San Joaquin Fire Authority Deputy Chief Brian Bagley spoke on this issue, saying, “When our crews were engaging in the firefight, they did not recognize any fire sprinkler activations at all”.
During the fire, fire personnel discovered, upon checking the fire pump room, that the gauge was at zero for water pressure. Bagley noted that the adjacent and nearby hydrants native to the facility were powered by the same pump they couldn't utilize.
Photo Credit: South San Joaquin Fire Authority / Instagram
An inspection by an unnamed third-party contractor was conducted in January of 2026 and fully approved the sprinkler system as functional and operational. It is worth noting that a combination of accidents and employee complaints were filed with OSHA at the Medline facility spanning from Sep. 2022 to Jun. 8 of this year.
Thankfully, all 120 employees present at the time of the fire had been "evacuated and sustained no injuries”. Since the fire has been extinguished, efforts have been transferred over to Medline and Clean Harbors, a third-party environmental contractor.
The environmental company is using heavy machinery to get through the unstable charred remnants of what's left of the facility. Both Clean Harbors and Medline have also created a hotline for Tracy Residents that may still come across debris within their neighborhoods.
Photo Credit: Medline Newsroom
Medline did also confirm that Clean Harbors, after thorough testing, concluded that though the debris is flammable, it is non-hazardous. The City of Tracy website provides the number community members can call, which is 209-751-1888.
The City also said within their official update, “While Incident Command has been terminated, the fire investigation remains ongoing. Medline Industries will continue to provide full access to fire investigators and other agencies with jurisdiction as they work to determine the cause of the fire.”
Medline, in an official update, noted that they would be focused on providing support to residents in Tracy and affected employees. “Medline continues to support affected employees through financial assistance, reimbursement for lost and damaged items, counseling resources through our Employee Assistance Program, and a staffed command center and hotline providing updates in English and Spanish.”
They also noted they are actively working to serve their healthcare customers by providing the necessary products they’ll need and ensuring access to said products.
The main cause of the fire is also still being investigated at this time
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or questions, please reach out to me at yikaileau.w@lead4earth.org
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