Los Angeles Declares Emergency as Boyle Heights Cold-Storage Fire Continues to Smoke Over Neighborhood

On Saturday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a local emergency declaration to mobilize additional resources for the city in response to a large fire at a cold‑storage facility in Boyle Heights. The declaration was prompted by a blaze that began shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Lineage Logistics’ 491,000‑square‑foot warehouse on 1400 S. Los Palos St., near the downtown rail yards.

The fire spread rapidly across solar panels on the roof and caused an ammonia leak inside the building. Thick black smoke rose into the air, prompting shelter‑in‑place orders for nearby residents and businesses. Fire officials reported that the spread of the fire had been halted later that day and the shelter‑in‑place order lifted, but changing winds caused the blaze to re‑ignite. By Friday, firefighters were again battling flames and conducting overhaul operations, and the fire was still burning on Saturday.

No injuries have been reported. An air‑quality advisory remains in effect, and while fire officials said no toxic or hazardous materials were detected in the smoke, concerns have grown about the possible health effects of the massive amounts of spoiled food.

The emergency declaration directs the city’s Emergency Operations Organization to be immediately activated and to take “such steps as may be necessary or appropriate for the protection of life, health or property.” It also requires all city departments impacted by the event to conduct damage assessments and collect relevant cost estimates. The declaration requests that the governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts, that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act, and that the state expedite access to state and federal resources and other appropriate disaster‑relief programs.

Mayor Bass said the declaration was issued “to ensure the city has the resources it needs as this operation continues and to keep the community safe.” She added that the city and county have opened spaces for families seeking relief from the smoke and that they will continue working around the clock to put the fire out completely.

Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents the 14th Council District that includes Boyle Heights, emphasized that the emergency declaration is crucial because the hazards extend beyond the fire itself. She said residents have lived through days of smoke, shelter‑in‑place orders, disruptions to daily life, and ongoing questions about what this means for their health and well‑being. She pledged to push every level of government to bring the resources the community needs for emergency response, air monitoring, hazardous debris removal, environmental remediation, and public‑health protections.

To help residents cope with the smoke, the city opened a 24‑hour smoke‑relief center at the Pecan Recreation Center (145 S. Pecan St.) and the county opened a smoke‑respite center at City Terrace Park (1126 N. Hazard Ave.). Both centers are operating around the clock.

Lineage Logistics, formerly known as Lineage, is the world’s largest temperature‑controlled warehouse real‑estate investment trust. The Boyle Heights facility has experienced a previous fire in August 2024, when firefighters responded to a blaze involving solar panels on the warehouse roof. The company has faced scrutiny in the past for safety violations, including a 2023 Environmental Protection Agency fine for improper ammonia storage.

The incident underscores the challenges of operating large cold‑storage facilities in densely populated urban areas. It also highlights the importance of coordinated emergency response across city, county, and state agencies.

As the fire continues to burn, the city and county remain focused on protecting residents, assessing damage, and preparing for recovery. The emergency declaration remains in effect until the incident is fully resolved.