BOYLE HEIGHTS, CA – Firefighters are entering their fifth day of battling a massive blaze at a cold-food storage facility in Boyle Heights, which has prompted air quality alerts across Los Angeles.
Progress Made At Massive Facility
The fire broke out on June 17 on the roof of the 500,000-square-foot Lineage facility on South Los Palos Street. While the fire was initially confined to the roof and solar panel system, crews have faced persistent interior flare-ups.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) confirmed they are making significant progress after removing parts of the walls to gain direct access to the flames. However, officials remain cautious about potential structural collapse, as the interior storage racks are currently keeping the compromised roof upright.
Air Quality and Health Advisories
Strong winds continue to push smoke and fine particles miles away from the incident scene. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a particle pollution advisory.
Health officials are advising residents, especially those with underlying conditions like asthma or COPD, to limit outdoor activities. LAFD Chief Jaime Moore stated that smoke could visible for another two to three days as crews aggressively move to extinguish the remaining hot spots.
State of Emergency and $2 Million Aid
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the weekend to provide extra assistance to the round-the-clock response crews. In a major relief update, hazmat concerns were mitigated after teams successfully pumped out and transported the facility’s ammonia and other chemicals offsite.
Lineage announced a $2 million contribution to the California Community Foundation to aid affected residents. The company is also working with local entities to distribute air purifiers and food to the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Unified School District is actively monitoring air conditions to ensure campus filtration systems are operating correctly as the week begins.
