Massive 3-alarm fire engulfs pallet facility near Tracy, leading to local evacuations

SAN JOAQUIN, Calif. (FOX26) — Firefighters battled a massive fire at a pallet facility near Tracy on Thursday.

South San Joaquin County Fire Authority crews were dispatched to a call for an outdoor fire just before 2:00 a.m.

When they arrived at the facility on Grant Line Road in Banta they quickly upgraded it to a 3-alarm fire because of the size of the blaze.

GMA Pallet Recycling employee Diego Herrera estimated there were 80,000 to 100,000 burning.

Police evacuated 19 homes in Banta, a small community near Tracy in San Joaquin County.

Banta Elementary School was also closed on Thursday.

Grant Line Road remained closed from the 11th Street roundabout to Banta Road.

The fire has been brought under control but crews are still on site to keep hotspots from flaring back up.