After a massive fire destroyed Medline's 1 million-square-foot distribution facility in Tracy, California, the company took emergency measures to help mitigate medical supply chain disruptions.
According to the Associated Press, the facility was evacuated, and no one was injured. Local officials said on-site sprinklers and hydrants were not working, which hindered their ability to put out the blaze. Multiple reports say the fire is still burning.
The warehouse was one of Medline's more than 50 U.S. distribution centers. The company said the Tracy facility serves as a local distribution center largely serving parts of Northern California.
Immediately following the incident, Medline said it activated a command center and a network contingency plan and began incorporating secondary and tertiary distribution centers. Product distribution previously supported by the Tracy facility has been reassigned and is in the process of being deployed to other facilities within our regional network to help maintain service and support customer needs.
The company said beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through the weekend, it has increased MedTrans shipments and activated its MedTrans delivery relay system, which will enable distribution centers across its network to move product more quickly to local delivery teams and support final-mile deliveries.
"Medline's resilient supply chain is designed to respond to unexpected disruptions, and we are leveraging our nationwide distribution and transportation network to help minimize the impact on customers," the company said in a statement. "Medline is working with our insurance carriers. We are also working with the local authorities to assess the impact of the fire. We remain committed to serving our customers and providing regular updates."
