LA County declares emergency in Boyle Heights fire; investigation underway for potential pollutants in LA River.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has declared a local emergency to facilitate swift support for residents in unincorporated East Los Angeles and surrounding areas affected by a prolonged warehouse fire in Boyle Heights. The blaze, which has persisted for over a week at the Lineage cold-storage facility, has raised concerns about environmental damage, particularly regarding the water quality in local waterways.
On June 23, smoke once again filled the skies from the smoldering structure. Fire crews have been diligently working to contain the blaze, which they hope to extinguish completely by the end of the week. Reports indicate that runoff from firefighting efforts has entered the Los Angeles River, potentially leading to fish deaths downstream, a claim first raised by Hilda Solis, First District Supervisor and Board Chair during the board meeting. While officials from the Los Angeles Fire Department continue to investigate the situation, they have not yet confirmed these reports of environmental impact.
To mitigate the situation, containment booms have been strategically placed in two locations along the Los Angeles River, designed to prevent solid materials from flowing downstream while allowing water runoff to continue. Lane County Public Works has contracted with Ocean Blue Environmental Services to manage the cleanup, including the removal of dead fish.
In light of the circumstances, the Board of Supervisors approved two motions to initiate environmental assessments and direct the county counsel to explore potential enforcement actions against Lineage Logistics, the company operating the warehouse. This facility had a previous incident involving fire in August 2024 and has faced scrutiny due to its past environmental violations.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s arson unit is actively investigating the cause of the fire, which reportedly began when solar panels on the roof caught fire. The incident has contributed to severely unhealthy air quality characterized by increased levels of particulate matter, affecting communities from Boyle Heights to Pasadena.
In response to the emergency, Supervisor Solis’s office has distributed 2,300 air purifiers, 10,000 N95 masks, and 1,500 food boxes to alleviate the hardships faced by approximately 600 impacted households. Supervisor Janice Hahn noted that numerous residents have reported experiencing nausea and respiratory issues, emphasizing the historical burden of environmental challenges in the East Los Angeles community.
The emergency remains active as the board will review ongoing reports related to the situation and continue collaborative efforts with state emergency services. With the potential for the fire to be fully extinguished soon, county officials are also monitoring air quality improvements, which have shown signs of stabilization despite the ongoing challenges faced by affected communities.
The burgeoning crisis underscores not only the immediate need for relief but also the long-standing issues of environmental justice that persist within these areas.
