By Mike Kinney
A two-alarm fire at a pallet supply company in North Richmond sent a plume of dark smoke this morning into the air that was visible for miles.
The fire was reported at 10:30 a.m. at Brothers Pallets at 2258 Central Street. Stacks of pallets and four empty big rig containers were among the objects impacted by the fire.
“There were pallets, bales of cardboard and other debris that burned on a quarter acre of land,” said Richmond Fire Battalion Chief Victor Bontiempo.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury, Bontiempo said. A Contra Costa Fire District bulldozer helped to contain hot spots.
The fire’s cause and origin are under investigation.
Interim Richmond Fire Chief Michael Smith said the numerous pallets contributed to the large blaze.
“When you have burning pallets they burn pretty freely once ignited,” he said.
About 40 firefighters, two ladder trucks and seven fire engines responded to ultimately contain the blaze, including members of the Richmond Fire Department, Contra Costa County Fire District and El Cerrito Fire Department.
