Massive fire engulfs San Bernardino pallet yard, spreads to neighboring strip mall

A huge blaze engulfed a pallet yard in San Bernardino and damaged a neighboring building as dozens of firefighters battled the flames early Friday, officials said.

The fire started just before 4 a.m. in the 1900 block of East River View Drive, triggering a three-alarm response and pulling in 70 firefighters and 19 engines to battle the blaze, said San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesman Jeff Allen. The fire was contained just before 7 a.m.

Video from the scene showed the predawn sky filled with black smoke illuminated by towering flames and lights from fire trucks. Firefighters even brought in a bulldozer to aid in the effort, the fire department tweeted.

The fire spread to a neighboring strip mall but details on damage to businesses there weren’t immediately available, authorities said.

The blaze is challenging because pallet fires generally grow rapidly and have a lot of fuel to burn, Allen said. Friday’s was further complicated because it likely wasn’t immediately reported since it ignited before sunrise and a lot of people weren’t outside to notice it, he said.

Allen said it was too early to estimate when firefighters would have full control over the blaze but advised drivers to avoid the area during their morning commute.

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UPDATES:

8:05 a.m.: This article was updated with firefighters containing the blaze.

6:45 a.m.: This article was updated with details on the fire’s growth.

This article was originally published at 6:05 a.m.