A massive fire broke out at a large warehouse in South El Monte, California, around 4:20 a.m. local time on Sunday, the 8th.
According to CBS News, the warehouse was an Amazon facility for package returns.
When firefighters arrived at the scene just minutes after receiving the fire report, they could see blazing flames lighting up the night sky.
Firefighters spent several hours battling the blaze, and rescuers noted that the presence of lithium-ion batteries and other electronic devices in the warehouse may have contributed to the intensity of the fire.
The fire was brought under control around 6 a.m. that morning and was fully extinguished by around 7 a.m. Although there were no reported injuries, the warehouse was completely destroyed by the flames.
Sheila Kelliher Berkoh, a public information officer for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, stated that the building’s roof had collapsed, and firefighters were working to control the two-alarm fire.
“The warehouse itself contained Amazon return packages,” he added, noting that firefighters were dealing with a “heavy fire load.”
“There were many lithium-ion batteries and small electronic devices, which are highly unstable. Some people reported hearing faint explosions from inside, likely caused by the batteries.”
However, in an email to local media outlet KTLA, an Amazon spokesperson stated that the warehouse involved in the fire was not affiliated with the company, and Amazon does not operate any return centers in South El Monte. The exact nature and ownership of the warehouse remain unclear, and investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
