One after another, pallet fires have lit up the skies of Stockton. Now, the city is taking action, posting cease-and-desist operations notices on six pallet businesses.
"[The companies] will not be allowed to continue all operations until all fire, building and municipal code violations have been addressed," said Richard Edwards, Stockton Fire Marshal. Specifically, the city says the non-compliant businesses lack fire access roads. The city also requires them to store pallets within 150 feet of a water supply and develop a site plan that identifies pallet storage areas.
That water supply may be a private hydrant on the property or a street hydrant.
Edwards said all of Stockton's 15 pallet yards were inspected. The non-compliant yards were approached in January with a follow-up letter in June.
"So they're not allowed to intake any more pallets," Edwards said. "They're not allowed to build. They're not allowed to repair new pallets."