Saturday evening in Pomona turned into a long, smoky slog for firefighters, as more than 100 personnel attacked a fast-moving blaze at a pallet yard that pushed a thick column of black smoke across the San Gabriel Valley. Officials said the fire ignited around 6:40 p.m. at a commercial pallet facility on East Ninth Street. Crews stayed on scene well into the night, chasing stubborn hot spots and working to keep the fire from flaring back up. No injuries were reported.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Fire Department deployed more than 100 firefighters to the scene, and video from the area captured a massive plume of black smoke towering over the neighborhood. The department told the outlet that the cause of the fire is under investigation and that crews remained at the site for overhaul operations. Officials have not released any estimates of property damage or specific information about the business involved.
Why pallet yards burn so quickly
Once a pallet yard catches, firefighters know they are in for a grind. Stacks of wooden pallets create a dense fuel load that can burn intensely on the surface while smoldering deep inside for hours, which makes both the initial attack and the cleanup phase far more complicated. A 2023 pallet-yard blaze in downtown Los Angeles showed just how quickly these kinds of fires can grow and how costly the aftermath can be, as LAist reported. When these fires break out, departments often respond with extra engines, heavy equipment, and tactics designed to pull apart and thoroughly douse the smoldering stacks.
Local regulations and inspection steps
In an effort to keep pallet and outdoor storage yards from turning into exactly this kind of scene, Pomona's planning staff has recommended a series of limits intended to reduce fire and safety risks. The city’s Planning Commission documents describe a typical 45 percent cap on storage coverage and 20-foot stacking limits, along with requirements for drive aisles and fire lanes, according to a Pomona Planning Commission staff report. City officials have not said whether the facility involved in Saturday’s fire was operating under a current permit.
Officials urged the public to steer clear of the area while firefighters wrapped up their work and said updates would be released as the investigation moves forward. We will update this story as agencies issue new information. For the latest official details, check the Los Angeles County Fire Department and local coverage through NBC Los Angeles.
