By Khalida Sarwari
Several fire agencies are still working today to extinguish a fire that has gutted a warehouse in Watsonville, a fire spokesman said.
The four-alarm blaze at Apple Growers Ice and Cold Storage Company was reported around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Rosa Meyer, a spokeswoman for the Watsonville Fire Department.
As of 11 a.m. today, the fire had not yet been controlled. Crews are working to confine the blaze to one building and to salvage property inside the facility, Meyer said.
She said it might be three or four days before the fire is completely extinguished, due to the nature of items inside the facility and because firefighters have to battle the blaze from outside.
“Firefighters can’t go inside … it’s too dangerous,” Meyer said. “There’s stuff all over the place and falling down.”
No injuries have been reported.
The warehouse is located in an industrial area, but there are some homes nearby that might be affected by the smoke, Meyer said. She advised residents with respiratory problems to stay indoors.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Agencies from throughout the county and beyond are assisting with the fire, including the Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz fire departments.