HIGHLAND – Fifty firefighters battled a third-alarm fire at a meat-packing plant early Monday, a blaze that caused an estimated $1 million damage to the building. The fire at Far West Meats at 7759 Victoria Ave. was reported at 6:56 a.m. Firefighters arrived and saw no smoke or flames until they checked out the attic. “It did eventually punch through the roof,” said Cal Fire spokesman Bill Peters. About 30 workers inside the plant also didn’t know the building was on fire right away. “No one knew until the smoke started coming down,” said Raul Spindola, plant manager. Cal Fire firefighters entered the 25,900-square-foot plant, while additional personnel stayed outside and fired water onto the roof from trucks with 75-foot ladders. Personnel from agencies including Redlands, Rialto, Colton, San Manuel and San Bernardino City fire departments, along with the San Bernardino County Fire Department had the blaze contained by 9 a.m. There were no reported injuries. Firefighters said the blaze was electrical in nature. Spindola said the fire started in an exhaust motor. “The scary part is the aftermath – what’s going to happen to the people who work here for a living,” Spindola said. Far West Meats has 75 employees.
Story by: SB Sun
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