Firefighters battle blaze at Perris pallet yard

A third-alarm fire destroyed two acres of pallets early today at a pallet yard in Perris, authorities said.

About 45 firefighters were dispatched to the site of the blaze, which was reported at 2:49 a.m. near North Webster Avenue and West Ramona Expressway, said April Newman of the Riverside County Fire Department.

It was still burning three hours later but firefighters said the fire was holding at two acres.

Multiple explosions from propane within the compound were reported but there was no threat to the commercial building near the pallets, Newman said.

Southern California Edison was asked to send personnel to the scene to deal with two burned power poles, Newman said.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was asked to shut down both directions of West Ramona Expressway.