Along Union Pacific Avenue in Boyle Heights, rat traps line the sidewalk at intervals of about 10 feet. Their purpose is to capture the large rodents attracted to the burned warehouse filled with rotting meat. Lisett Navarrete, a local resident, doubts their effectiveness. ‘It’s not like little house rats. They’re giant rats,’ she explains. ‘They don’t fit there.’

Since the fire at the Lineage cold-storage warehouse last month, the company has worked to remove the tons of rotting meat. With rising temperatures, the smoke crisis has evolved into one of odors, insects, rodents, and sanitation problems. Neighbors argue that deodorizers and misters aren’t enough to resolve the issue. Flies, rats, and a persistent odor from the warehouse plague them.

Local businesses also suffer, reporting that customer numbers have dwindled due to the stench. A passerby covers their nose while walking by Lineage Logistics, amidst many complaints about the smell from residents and businesses in the area. Air regulators report nearly 1,000 odor complaints from the facility, with an unknown timeline for complete waste removal.

On Tuesday, residents from East L.A. attended a county Board of Supervisors meeting to express dissatisfaction with the situation. They urged the county to issue an evacuation order and provide assistance. Alma Marquez, of Protect L.A. Now, voiced local concerns about accountability.

Mayor Karen Bass stated that Airbnb committed $1 million in emergency housing for city and county residents in the warehouse vicinity. The company has already provided over 1,000 nights of housing. However, Marquez argues an evacuation order would unlock additional benefits, including support from home insurance clauses for affected homeowners.

Supervisor Hilda Solis recognizes the frustration and urges that any evacuation decision lies with city officials due to the warehouse’s location. She states that most residents wish to stay put but want the odors and waste addressed.

Following the fire, the Southern California Air Quality Management District issued several violations to Lineage Logistics. The company pledged compliance with Mayor Bass’s order to clear the waste within 45 days. By Wednesday, 521 truckloads, or over 1,506 tons of waste, had been removed. Their mitigation plan involves surrounding the building with odor-control sprayers, applying odor neutralizers multiple times a day, and using carbon filters inside to handle emissions efficiently.

Alex Rodriguez, Vice President of Operations at Lineage Logistics, emphasized the commitment to a swift cleanup while minimizing odor and monitoring air quality. Residents hope normalcy will return. Sabino Soto, a 70-year-old local, looks forward to resuming life as usual.

Martin Ramirez, who works nearby, recounts how the odors and flies disrupted his business. He’s losing about $10,000 weekly, and a persistent rat has lurked in his office since the fire. Flies, with bright red heads, trouble residents, who struggle to fend them off with traps and sticky tapes. The health concern remains a priority, with many keeping windows shut to avoid fly contamination.

Bryan Regis, manager at a nearby grill, notes that he and his team resorted to driving a mile away for lunch breaks to escape the unpleasant environment. Constant vigilance is required to protect their food from flies. Both his and Ramirez’s stories underscore the ongoing struggle in Boyle Heights as residents deal with the aftermath of the warehouse fire.