Firefighters are tackling renewed complexities at a large fire in a Boyle Heights cold storage facility. This effort has prompted Mayor Karen Bass to declare a local emergency to support response operations. The fire began on Wednesday at the 500,000-square-foot Lineage Big Bear facility, located at 1400 S. Los Palos Street. The building stores frozen foods.
According to L.A. Fire Chief Jamie Moore, the structure resembles a giant cooler. It features corrugated steel walls, dense foam insulation, and reinforced steel panels. The facility uses ammonia in its refrigeration system to maintain low temperatures for frozen food.
“Think of your refrigerator catching fire. The outer shell and inner shell hold the temperature,” Moore explained. “We have that with rubber in the middle, insulating the facility.”
Water-dropping helicopters have assisted LAFD crews to control the fire in about half of the building. The rest of the building is filled with food that is starting to thaw due to the refrigeration system being turned off. Despite the fire, the temperature inside remains around 45 degrees because of insulation.
The foam insulation has been difficult to manage. Once ignited, it burns slowly. Crews are using continuous helicopter water drops and large ladder pipes to prevent further escalation. Contract helicopters have been deployed, dropping 3,000 gallons of water along with blaze tamer gel. This gel helps encapsulate smoke and smother the fire.
On Sunday at 5:10 p.m., footage showed another flare-up on the roof with a large smoke plume. Officials are working to isolate unaffected areas and evaluate how to safely remove goods before spoilage creates biohazard concerns. With 85 million pounds of food inside, access remains limited.
Moore stated that mostly bread and wheat products were initially reported. However, meat products like chicken, beef, pork, and fish are also present.
No injuries have been reported, and no evacuation orders have been issued. Moore advised residents sensitive to smoke to stay indoors. Despite the smoke being irritating, particularly for those with air quality concerns, it is not deemed dangerous enough for evacuations.
Mayor Bass emphasized the focus on public safety and health. Two shelters have opened at the Pecan Recreation Center and City Terrace Park. Masks and air filters will be distributed with assistance from the Red Cross and partners. A joint emergency declaration with Governor Newsom is being prepared.
Bass highlighted the necessity of the emergency declaration for coordinating efforts and securing resources. The declaration aims to enhance flexibility in emergency response, environmental remediation, and seeking state and federal assistance.
LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis mentioned the impact of the fire extends approximately 2.5 miles, affecting around 250,000 households. Residents have voiced concerns about the fire’s long-term health impacts on the community. The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a particle pollution advisory.
A Lineage statement noted the fire might have started due to work by a contractor on the facility’s solar panels. It further explained that preventive measures were taken to remove ammonia, ensuring it poses no risk to the community.
The fire chief warns that extinguishing the blaze could take days or weeks. Firefighters are engaged in complex operations to contain the fire and reduce environmental impacts.
Authorities urge residents to report any unusual odors, smoke, or air quality concerns to the South Coast Air Quality Management District via 1-800-CUT-SMOG or their online complaint system. Current air quality updates can be accessed through their app or website.
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