Update: Massive south Modesto fire, damaging warehouses, brought under control
A fire that apparently started in outdoor bins containing almond hulls spread to warehouses and nearby outbuildings, travel trailers and RVs on Bunker Avenue off River Road in south Modesto on Sunday afternoon.
The multi-alarm fire on the property of the Wholesome Nut Co, which began at about 1:30 p.m., was under control by about 3:30 p.m. There were no initial reports of injury.
According to Chief Alan Ernst of the Modesto Fire Department, the initial dispatch was for a structure fire in the Ceres Fire Department coverage area. As dark smoke that could be seen for miles billowed above, departments including but not limited to Modesto, Stanislaus Consolidated, Denair, Hughson and Keyes were dispatched to the scene.
Out-of-county departments also aided, providing coverage elsewhere in Ceres and Modesto, Ernst said. The fire quickly went to three alarms, but 10 more engine companies were called in, making it the equivalent of a five- or six-alarm blaze, the chief said.
The heavy smoke and large response by fire crews had people watching from afar. Residents of a mobile home park on Wisenor Avenue east of the property stood in pickup truck beds and on lawn chairs and other perches to see the blaze over a block wall. From the west, people pulled off Seventh Street and climbed an embankment to watch from railroad tracks.
There were early reports that houses were burning or threatened, but that turned out likely to be motor homes.
The Wholesome Nut building was burned “through and through,” Ernst said. Two other warehouses sustained roof and structure damage, one of which belongs to VBC Bottling Co. on Hosmer Avenue, which is south of where the fire originated.
River Road was closed between South Seventh and South Ninth streets as traffic began being rerouted.
Ernst said crews likely would be on scene until at least 6 p.m.
This story was originally published August 30, 2020 at 2:32 PM.
