Key facts
- A warehouse fire in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, resulted in the spoilage of approximately 40 million pounds of frozen food.
- Residents are experiencing health issues and complaining of a strong odor from the rotting food.
- Lineage Logistics and Altus Power are involved with the warehouse, with Lineage blaming Altus for the fire.
- Cleanup operations are underway, but the disposal plan for the spoiled food is unclear.
- Mayor Karen Bass has pledged accountability and mobilization of resources for cleanup.
Residents in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, are suffering from a pervasive stench of rotting food following a massive warehouse fire that destroyed half of its 85 million pounds of frozen inventory. The fire, which began on June 17, led to a state of emergency and evacuation orders due to thick black smoke and worsening air quality. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze on Wednesday, the remaining 40 million pounds of spoiled food are now a significant concern for the community's health and the environment.
Residents like Kelvin Vasquez, who lives near the 500,000 sq ft warehouse, have reported health issues such as sore throats, headaches, dizziness, and nausea since the fire started. Vasquez described the smell as "like a dead body" or "like a dead animal." The water used to combat the fire has also created a stream of pollution containing debris and spoiled food items.
The cleanup operation is the responsibility of the property owner and Lineage Logistics, a cold-storage company that leases the space. Lineage has hired a cleanup firm, but details on the timeline and disposal methods for the spoiled food remain unclear. Los Angeles health services officials stated they were unaware of any disposal plans.
Investigations into the fire's cause are ongoing. Lineage Logistics has blamed Altus Power, a clean energy company that operates solar panels on the warehouse roof, suggesting the fire began during solar array testing. Altus Power maintains that the cause has yet to be determined. This incident is not the first fire at the location; solar panels on the same warehouse caught fire two years prior, with no cause determined. A Lineage warehouse in Finley, Washington, also experienced a 60-day fire two years ago, leading to resident complaints about health issues and ongoing civil lawsuits.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has vowed to hold those responsible accountable and plans to sign an executive order to mobilize resources for the cleanup of the spoiled food.