Key facts
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared an emergency Saturday to secure resources for a warehouse fire.
- The fire at a privately owned cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights started Wednesday.
- The blaze involves 85 million pounds of frozen food, creating visibility and access challenges for firefighters.
- Fire officials are addressing hazardous materials and biohazard challenges.
- The emergency declaration seeks assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act to manage toxic materials and prevent environmental disaster.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared an emergency Saturday to secure the necessary resources to combat a large warehouse fire that has been releasing significant smoke plumes into the air. The fire, which ignited on Wednesday at a privately owned cold-storage facility in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, had previously led to shelter-in-place orders due to concerns over hazardous air quality.
In a news release, Bass stated, “The city and county have opened spaces for families seeking relief from the smoke, and we will continue working around the clock and doing everything possible to put this fire out completely.” The declaration aims to expedite access to resources and relief programs under the California Disaster Assistance Act, with a primary focus on managing toxic materials and averting an environmental disaster.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore noted the complexity of the situation, explaining that the 85 million pounds of frozen food stored within the facility present unique challenges. “The way the building has been laid out, it’s very difficult for us to get in there because there’s zero visibility inside,” Moore said during a news conference. “Our firefighters are not able to just go in there and start moving pallets.” He added that the hazardous materials aspect of the blaze has been managed, and the focus is now on biohazard challenges.