Fire that threatened Walmart market on Geer Road in Turlock is under investigation
Authorities are investigating a fire that threatened the Walmart Neighborhood Market on the 2400 block of Geer Road in Turlock early Sunday.
Shortly before 2:30 a.m., the Turlock Fire Department responded to a report of a commercial structure fire. Crews found a large storage pile of cardboard pallets, plastic crates and more on fire, extending to the loading-dock doors at the rear of the store.
According to a post on the Fire Department’s Facebook page, crews laid out large attack lines to start fighting the fire, secured a supply line to a hydrant, made entry to the store to check for extension and used a ladder to check the roof.
“The fire was quickly knocked down, preventing further spread into the structure and roof,” the post said. Ceres and Denair crews used fans to help remove smoke from the building, and a city backhoe was requested to break apart the storage pile to ensure the fire was out.
The store was able to open on time Sunday morning, a manager said Monday.
Turlock police and personnel from AMR, PG&E and the Turlock Irrigation District also were at the scene, the Fire Department said, and Turlock Rural Fire assisted with city coverage during the incident.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the fire is asked to contact Fire Marshal Mark Gomez at mgomez@turlock.ca.us.
