Fire at Dairy Plant Causes Evacuation

A dairy plant in downtown Fresno, CA, was evacuated after a fire sparked in one of the buildings on Tuesday afternoon.

The two-alarm fire started around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at California Dairies, which produces milk powder, butter and liquid milk. Smoke from the fire was seen across downtown Fresno.

Fresno Fire spokesman Josh Sellers said the cause of the two-alarm blaze was a fire inside one of the dryer units used in the production process at the plant.

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 workers inside the dairy plant, which is located in the city's Chinatown district, w^{ere evacuated during the fire, and investigators did not immediately have a cause why the dryer unit caught fire.}

About 50 firefighters and the plant's sprinkler system helped to keep the fire contained.

Crews are working to figure out the best way to reach the fire to fully extinguish it.