Clouds of smoke enveloped large areas of Los Angeles for the sixth consecutive day, following a fire at a warehouse in Boyle Heights. The blaze started Wednesday on the roof of a sizable cold-food storage facility located on South Los Palos Street. It led to shelter-in-place orders and the declaration of a state of emergency over the weekend.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District reported Sunday that the fire continues to produce smoke, affecting air quality throughout the region. They extended their advisory regarding particle pollution into Monday morning, explaining that air particulates had reached ‘very unhealthy’ levels in central Los Angeles County, San Gabriel Valley, East San Fernando Valley, and Northwest San Bernardino Valley.
The district predicted smoke would impact areas north and east of the fire until Monday morning. They urged residents to minimize exposure by staying indoors, keeping windows and doors closed, and using air conditioning or air purifying units.
‘Residents have endured days of smoke, shelter-in-place orders, and disruptions to daily life. There are ongoing concerns about the implications for their health and well-being,’ stated Ysabel Jurado, the council member representing Boyle Heights. ‘I am committed to ensuring that every level of government provides the necessary resources for emergency response, air monitoring, hazardous debris removal, environmental remediation, and public health protections.’
In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County. ‘California is mobilizing to support Los Angeles as firefighters and emergency personnel continue their efforts to contain this fire and protect surrounding communities,’ Newsom said in a news release. ‘The state stands ready to safeguard public health, support emergency operations, and assist affected residents.’
Mayor Karen Bass also issued a Declaration of Local Emergency, stressing the multi-jurisdictional nature of the incident and the need for adequate resources to maintain community safety. ‘The City and County have established spaces for families seeking refuge from the smoke and will persist in efforts to extinguish the fire completely,’ Bass stated.
Lineage, a cold storage and logistics company, operates at the affected site and pledged $2 million to the nonprofit California Community Foundation to aid those impacted by the fire. ‘The health and safety of our team members, partners, and communities are Lineage’s top priorities,’ the company stated, mentioning their collaboration with local officials to provide air purifiers, food, and other resources to the community.
While Lineage operates within the warehouse, they clarified they do not own it. They lease the roof to a third-party solar company, responsible for its operations and maintenance. ‘We believe the fire originated on the roof while the company’s subcontractors were servicing the solar array,’ Lineage stated. An investigation into the fire’s cause has not yet commenced.
Community members, including a Boyle Heights resident, were seen covering their faces due to the smoke. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported significant progress in combatting the blaze, removing parts of the exterior wall for better access to interior fire areas and enabling the application of large volumes of water.
‘Smoke conditions have improved significantly and are expected to continue improving as firefighters make progress extinguishing the fire,’ the LAFD said. Nevertheless, occasional increases in smoke may occur as crews open walls and concealed spaces to locate hidden fire.
Public reaction included images of Dodger Stadium shrouded in smoke, posted on social media, describing the scene as ‘an acrid, nasty haze.’ Despite concerns, the haze cleared, and the game proceeded.
The events unfolding in Boyle Heights highlight the varied responses at local and state levels aimed at addressing immediate concerns and long-term implications for residents and the environment.