Home / Disasters and Accidents / LA Declares Emergency Over Smoldering Cold Storage Blaze
LA Declares Emergency Over Smoldering Cold Storage Blaze
21 Jun
Summary
- Firefighters face unique challenges from insulated walls and gas emissions.
- Millions of gallons of frozen food must be removed before biohazard.
- Mayor declared emergency to mobilize resources for the multi-jurisdictional event.
A significant fire that began Wednesday afternoon at a cold-storage warehouse in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood continued to smolder Saturday. The blaze presents unique challenges for firefighters, as the building's insulated walls burn slowly and emit gas, with no visibility inside.
Fire Chief Jaime Moore described the situation as complex, involving the removal of ammonia and smoldering debris. Officials are working to extract millions of gallons of frozen food to prevent a biohazard. Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency to secure necessary resources for the ongoing, multi-jurisdictional operation.
The warehouse, owned by Lineage Logistics, stores approximately 85 million pounds of frozen food. While no injuries have been reported and shelter-in-place orders were lifted, residents are advised to be mindful of smoke, especially those with health conditions.
Health officials recommend limiting outdoor exposure, closing windows, and using masks when outdoors. Two smoke respite shelters have been established by the American Red Cross to assist the community.
