On October 6, 2026, members of law enforcement were observed at Lineage Cold Storage Solutions in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. This visit, involving the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, related to a criminal investigation following the summer fire at the warehouse.
Officers were seen searching the warehouse offices before noon. An officer informed a Los Angeles Times reporter that their presence was part of a criminal probe but did not disclose further details. Concurrently, individuals from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office were stationed at the facility’s office entrance. The entrance was partially blocked by two dark sedans.
Efforts to contact Lineage officials for a comment were not immediately successful.
The Lineage cold-storage facility experienced a significant fire starting on June 17, which took a week to extinguish. Firefighting efforts faced obstacles such as solar panels that hindered access, due to their failure to de-energize initially. Additionally, 50-foot stacks of frozen goods inside created safety hazards, limiting interior access. An unexpected ammonia gas leak also led to a shelter-in-place order for nearby buildings.
After the fire, Lineage raced to remove the 89 million pounds of stored meat and food before spoilage, a process that took over six weeks. This delay led to complaints from locals about increased pests and illnesses. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, with Los Angeles Fire Department investigators unable to exclude the involvement of roof solar panels.
Martín Ramírez, who owns a nearby car shop, reported that upon arriving for work Tuesday morning, he observed the warehouse bustling with activity and heavy machinery operations. Minutes later, it appeared to be deserted.
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