Operations & Training

More than Half of FD's On-Duty Resources Needed for CA Fire

July 30, 2020

At least 45 Fresno firefighters responded to a three-alarm blaze that broke out when a grass fire that witnesses say was intentionally set threatened a nearby tire shop and homeless encampments.

By Anthony Galaviz

Source The Fresno Bee

At least 45 Fresno, CA, firefighters--half of the deparment's on-duty resources--battled a three-alarm blaze that started as an apparent grass fire and threatened a tire shop and a homeless encampment.

A three-alarm fire in central Fresno on Wednesday evening required the use of more than half of the fire department’s on-duty resources as crews battled the flames.

The fire started about 8 p.m. alongside Highway 180 near Belmont and San Pablo avenues, said Fresno Fire Department public information officer Shane Brown. It apparently started in grass but spread toward a tire shop and into homeless encampments.

A pile of tires behind the business caught fire, producing a large plume of black smoke that could be seen from most of the city.

Brown said witnesses told investigators they saw a person start the fire.

There were no injuries, and damage to the tire shop was minimal.

At least 45 firefighters were on the scene.

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