Massive fire in Sanger stretched city resources to the limit

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The fire that destroyed Initiative Foods ultimately cut off power and reduced water pressure for many living near where the fire broke out.

As a massive fire took over in Sanger, 75 firefighters from across the Central Valley responded, using every resource they had to put it out.

"I believe there were approximately 11 agencies here at the scene so I think it's a combination of everyone working together as a team and helping out," mayor pro-tem Raul Cantu said.

The flames scorched a nearby power line cutting off power to nearby homes.

"We had some fallen power lines so for the safety of the public and the firefighters we had to shut down the power lines down around the power shutdown it shut down the well so we had to reposition some to take in water from other areas," Sanger Fire Chief Greg Tarascou said.

Tarascou says he's sure some people felt the effects of the well shutting off -- with reduced water pressure. Though some who live nearby told us their water pressure was fine.

It was the lack of electricity on a sweltering hot day that hurt the most.

"Went to my son's house and stayed there until 7 p.m., called my neighbor to tell me when the electricity is back on," Porfirio Reyes of Sanger said.

"Fire was really so well advanced at that point we were really just trying to protect ourselves we called in a defensive attack it so all the water we had was pouring onto the fire," Tarascou said.