Los Angeles firefighters are in their sixth day of battling a blaze at a massive frozen food warehouse near downtown. The fire, which broke out Wednesday at the Lineage facility in Boyle Heights, has proven exceptionally challenging due to the building's design and contents.
Firefighting Challenges
The warehouse, approximately 500,000 square feet (46,451 square meters), is covered in solar panels and insulated like a freezer. Firefighters have been unable to enter the building because of floor-to-ceiling heavy-duty steel rack shelving, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Jamie Stewart. Instead, they are fighting the blaze from outside, stripping away exterior walls and dousing the fire with heavy streams of water.
“It is to the point now, with this visibility and the smoke, you can’t really assess the safety as far as committing personnel,” Stewart said. He noted that a typical large warehouse fire can be extinguished in a day, but cold storage facilities can take weeks.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore stated that approximately 85 million pounds (38.6 million kilograms) of frozen food is stored inside.
Cause of the Fire
The cause of the fire has not been determined, Lineage said in a statement on its website. The company, which provides temperature-controlled warehouse space to food and beverage makers, believes the fire began when subcontractors were working on solar panels on the roof. Lineage is cooperating with fire officials investigating the blaze.
Contents of the Facility
The facility, named Big Bear, stores products such as seafood, pork, beef, and poultry before they are shipped to grocery stores and restaurants on the U.S. West Coast, according to Lineage's website. A message seeking details about the food and affected companies was not immediately returned.
Air Quality Concerns
Air quality officials reported that the air around Boyle Heights, a working-class neighborhood, remained very unhealthy on Monday. Particulates in the smoke are also affecting the San Gabriel Valley. The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a warning about poor air quality until Tuesday afternoon, stating that the blaze continues to produce smoke impacting the neighborhood and areas north and east of the fire.
The smoke carries microscopic particles known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs. Light winds may push the smoke in all directions, potentially impacting other parts of metropolitan Los Angeles.
Residents in the most impacted area were advised to avoid vigorous physical activity, close all windows, doors, and vents, turn off air conditioning, and bring people and pets to an inside room due to hazardous air. Those who need to go outside in smoky conditions should wear an N95 or P100 mask, health officials said.
