Coachella Vegetable Packing Plant Fire Contained, Roads Still Closed

COACHELLA, CA — Fighters contained a structural fire overnight that started in a large Coachella vegetable packing plant, but some roads still remain closed Friday.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department personnel responded to reports of a blaze at 6:25 a.m. Thursday at the 85400 block of Grapefruit Boulevard, according to a department statement. The affected building is about 50,000 square feet.

More than 50 firefighters were initially called to the scene, according to the RCFD statement. Among the units present were some Cathedral City and Palm Desert staff.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, four firefighters were treated for minor injuries. That number doubled by approximately 11 p.m., roughly the time when fire was contained, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Rob Roseen.

Firefighters were released from the scene Friday morning, according to KESQ.

Grapefruit Boulevard was initially closed from Fourth Street to Avenue 50 as a precautionary measure. The area between Sixth Street and First Street will remain closed until at least noon, for municipal repairs and clean- up, Roseen said.