A cold-storage warehouse fire in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles continued to burn over the weekend, impacting air quality in the region. The fire, which started on Wednesday, has been sending smoke across the city for five days.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, progress is being made in controlling the blaze, with expectations that the smoke will start to clear soon. However, air quality warnings remain in effect.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended its warning about poor air quality until Monday midday. Smoke particulates have reached levels deemed ‘very unhealthy’ in certain areas since Saturday night.
Authorities predict that smoke will primarily affect areas north and east of the fire, including the San Gabriel Valley and parts of the Inland Empire. Winds might carry the smoke to Riverside and Orange Counties, worsening conditions there.
Despite the fire, major sporting events such as the World Cup match between Belgium and Iran at SoFi Stadium and the Dodgers’ game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium proceeded as planned.
The warehouse, located east of downtown Los Angeles, poses challenges to firefighters. Its thick, insulated walls are designed to maintain low temperatures, similar to a freezer. This setup complexity involves extracting ammonia refrigerant and managing millions of gallons of frozen food stored within the building.
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