Firefighters extinguished a large blaze that burned in Tracy for several days and led air officials to issue an advisory for surrounding counties.
Almond hulls at an agricultural storage facility caught fire Sunday morning at Sugar Road and Holly Drive. The Agra Trading facility stores organic materials like walnut shells, almond hulls and peach pits. When crews put out that fire, another fire broke out again in the same place early Monday morning.
Then on Tuesday afternoon, a 40-acre grass fire broke out next to the facility.
Tracy Fire Chief David Bramel said windy conditions have made it challenging for fire crews.
The fires were contained by 3 p.m. Tuesday, but there was still plenty of smoke and smoldering. The fire department said a few crews back burned extra dry brush to prevent future fires in the area.
The health alert, which was in effect until the fire was extinguished, pertained to San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties, particularly the communities of Lathrop, Manteca and Modesto.
Smoke from the blaze can emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can cause health issues such as asthma attacks, lung disease and increase the risk of heart attacks, according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Potentially vulnerable are those with respiratory conditions and older adults and children.
