Two-alarm fire erupts at Fresno dairy, sending smoke billowing across downtown

About 50 firefighters scrambled to a major dairy in Chinatown on Tuesday afternoon after machinery inside the large structure caught fire and sent smoke billowing across downtown Fresno.

Fresno Fire spokesman Josh Sellers said the cause of the two-alarm blaze that erupted about 2:30 p.m. was a fire inside one of the dryer units used in the production process at the business, California Dairies.

Sprinklers inside the building were able to hold the fire in check until firefighters arrived, then fire engines were used to support the sprinklers, said Sellers.

The dairy was evacuated during the fire, and investigators did not immediately have a cause why the dryer unit caught fire. Sellers said no one was injured.

This story was originally published November 21, 2023 at 4:33 PM.