Employees Return To Work Day After Massive Fire

Over a hundred Visalia Citrus Packing Group employees returned to work Wednesday, after a night of uncertainty. Many said they’re sad to see the damage left behind by the Tuesday’s massive fire, but they’re happy it didn’t take their jobs with it.

It was a typical Tuesday night for Maricela Aguilar.

"I was in town. I was going to the store. We saw the fire engine come out, and I looked this way and saw all the flames, you know," Aguilar said.

But little did she know, those flames were coming from the same citrus packing company that she and several family members work. Her brother was on duty that night.

"He told me, ‘yeah everything is fine. The cardboard is on fire, I got to go!’" Aguilar said.

Aguilar was relieved when she found out no one was injured, but that’s when she had another concern.

"I go, ‘Do I still have a job, and she said yeah, yeah you do,’" Aguilar said.

Aguilar and dozens more returned to work Wednesday, just hours after the massive fire. But back in town, Woodlake residents still asking questions about what happened.

"Could be electrical. Homeless in there smoking, maybe starting a fire to keep warm, who knows." Woodlake resident Wil Bocanegra said.

Bocanegra said even though the fire was only two miles away from his house, he wasn’t worried.

"We’ve had fires here before. It doesn’t seem like it was a big fire," Bocanegra said.

Crews were on scene all day Wednesday putting out what’s left of the fire. As for the cause, that’s still under investigation.