HazMat Worries Ease After 3-Alarm Fire In Banning

BANNING, CA — Evacuation and shelter-in-place orders were in effect Thursday morning after a three-alarm fire tore through a commercial building at 101 W. Lincoln St., near San Gorgonio Avenue, in Banning.

The fire took nearly three hours to contain, and as of late Thursday afternoon street closures remained in place.

The fire was reported around 8 a.m. in a 50,000-square-foot building that houses a producer of vinyl/plastic products, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Captain/Public Information Officer Fernando Herrera. Eighty-two firefighters were called to the scene and the blaze was fully contained at 10:44 a.m.

The following road closures remained in place as of 4:25 p.m.:

San Gorgonio Ave., between Lincoln St. and Barbour St.

Lincoln St., between Eighth St. and S. Florida St.

The road closures are necessary while crews work to install temporary chainlink fencing around the damaged building, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokesperson Jody Hagemann. She said the closures will be re-evaluated once the fencing is secured.

Hazardous materials concerns prompted an evacuation order for businesses and residences within a 3,000-foot perimeter around the burning building. Anyone outside of that area, but nearby, was told to shelter in place.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as Riverside County Environmental Health were contacted.

Hagemann said Thursday evening that environmental concerns had been alleviated.

All schools will be opened Friday, according to officials..

There were no reports of injuries to firefighters or citizens during the fire.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

According to a search, Apollo Masters Corp. is housed at 101. W. Lincoln St. The company manufactures master lacquer discs and sleeves for the protection of audio discs.

A call to the company was not immediately returned.