On June 11, 2026 at approximately 1 p.m., a fire broke out at the Medline Industries. The warehouse is approximately 1,000,000 square feet, with nearly the entirety engulfed in flames. The fire is producing significant amount of smoke and is being actively addressed by the fire department and San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services (OES). This is still an active incident as of Friday, June 12, 2026.
Public Health Officer Guidance
As recovery efforts continue following the Promontory (Medline) Fire, community members are urged to take precautions when cleaning ash and fire debris. The fire created a debris field covering approximately six (6) square miles, and ash from burned structures may contain harmful materials, including chemicals, metals, and fine particles that can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.
Official Guidance
- Wear protective equipment, including an N95 mask, gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection.
- Keep children, pets, older adults, and anyone with respiratory conditions away from ash and debris.
- Lightly mist ash with water before cleanup to reduce airborne particles. Avoid sweeping dry ash or using leaf blowers.
- Do not vacuum ash unless using a HEPA-filter vacuum.
- Wash exposed skin thoroughly and launder clothing separately after cleanup.
- Double bag all ash and debris and keep it separate from regular household trash.
Debris Clean Up
To support debris assessment and clean up efforts, we are collecting information on locations where fire-related debris has been found. We encourage residents to follow official guidance, avoid the incident area, monitor local air quality conditions, and refrain from touching, moving, or collecting any fire related debris until it can be safely assessed by the appropriate authorities.
Download the Fire Ash Fact Sheet
Health Effects
Ash from burned structures may contain hazardous substances that can harm your health. All persons accessing burned structures should be aware of the hazards associated with those sites. Cleanup efforts may expose you to ash, soot, and fire decomposition products that may cause irritation and other health effects. Ash from burned structures is generally more hazardous than forest ash.
If anyone in the vicinity of the smoke plumes inhaled the smoke and is experiencing sudden onset respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or throat irritation, they should report to their nearest emergency department for further evaluation and treatment.
- Sensitive People: People with asthma or other lung diseases, heart disease, pregnant women, and the elderly should exercise special caution because they may be more susceptible to health effects from the ash.
- Children: Do not allow children to play in ash. Wash and clean all children’s toys before using. Children should not be in the vicinity while cleanup is in progress. Even if you are careful, it is easy to stir up ash that may contain hazardous substances. In addition, the exploratory behavior of children may result in direct contact with contaminated materials.
- Pets: Clean ash off house pets and other domesticated animals. Do not allow pets on contaminated sites.
- Avoid direct contact with ash. If you get ash on your skin, in your eyes, or in your mouth, wash it off as soon as you can.
Debris Clean Up
Before cleaning up, ask local authorities if it is safe for you to clean up your property and find out about any important recommendations or restrictions that they may have. Moving debris outside of the structural ash footprint may impact your eligibility for government run cleanup.
- Clothing: Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants to avoid skin contact. Contact with wet ash may cause chemical burns or irritation on skin. Change your shoes and clothing prior to leaving the site to avoid tracking ash offsite, into your car, or other places.
- Personal Protective Equipment: Goggles, NIOSH certified mask (N-95 or P-100), gloves. Persons with heart or lung disease should consult their physician before using a mask during post-fire cleanup.
Properly Clean Ash From Your Property
Avoid disturbing or sifting through the ash as much as possible. Do not engage in activities that kick up ash particles and associated chemicals into the air. Gently sweep indoor and outdoor hard surfaces followed by wet mopping. A damp cloth or wet mop may be used on lightly dusted areas. When wetting down ash, use as little water as possible.
Take care not to bring ash back to where you are staying. Wash your hands and change into clean clothes before you get into your car. Place clothing contaminated with ash in a plastic bag and seal it completely before putting it in the trunk of the car to keep ash out of the riding compartment.
Cleaning Dust Contaminated Inside Your Home
Avoid using a typical household vacuum which will re-suspend the collected dust into the air. Shop vacuums and other common vacuum cleaners do not filter out small particles, but rather blow such particles out the exhaust into the air where they can be breathed. Do not use leaf blowers or take other actions that will put ash into the air.
Food and Water
Wash any home grown fruits or vegetables from trees or gardens before eating. Avoid bringing other food to the site or eating at the affected site, or keep the food in a sealed container to prevent contamination and wash your hands well before eating. Consult with your drinking water provider to ensure the water is safe to drink.
Ash Disposal
If you suspect hazardous waste including asbestos is present, contact your local hazardous waste authorities regarding appropriate disposal. Avoid washing ash into storm drains.
