Fire Brings Smoke and Challenges to Boyle Heights Residents and Businesses

As firefighters continue to tackle a persistent fire at a large refrigerated warehouse in Boyle Heights, the community is voicing its frustration and health concerns due to the pervasive smoke. Inside Jim’s Burgers, near the affected area, owner Manuel Orozco and his staff wear face masks as they attempt to keep the business running amidst nearly empty tables.

No one is coming and it’s because of the smoke,

Orozco stated. He estimates that sales have plummeted by 70% over the past week. Health concerns have exacerbated the situation, with at least two employees unable to work due to conditions like high blood pressure and asthma.

The fire, burning for over a week at the cold storage warehouse, prompted local and state emergency declarations. Lineage, the building’s tenant-operator, suggests that the blaze began during a solar array test on the roof by third-party contractors. Fire officials also suspect the fire originated on the roof. State regulators announced they are investigating the incident.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore described the challenge of combating the fire. The massive 500,000-square-foot facility, stocked with 85 million pounds of frozen food, functions like a giant cooler. Inside, corrugated steel walls are lined with dense foam, which burns slowly and releases gases, complicating fire suppression efforts. Firefighters have faced obstacles, including large roof sections collapsed onto 50-foot-tall, 600-foot-long steel racks. Unsafe conditions prevent crews from entering the building.

External efforts to fight the fire from the roof have been largely futile due to existing solar panels, which posed risks until firefighters disconnected the power. Manuel Orozco, at Jim’s Burgers, continues to endure significant impacts from the fire at the Lineage cold storage warehouse.

The resulting smoke has warranted advisories across neighboring areas, severely affecting the community. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has ratified an emergency proclamation to quicken access to state and federal resources and bolster response and recovery actions, offering disaster assistance to those affected. The Board, led by Chair Hilda Solis with Supervisor Janice Hahn, urged continued health monitoring, environmental evaluation, and community support. A collaborative investigation with city and state partners is in motion, along with pursuit of enforcement actions and compensation options for affected parties.

Hahn called for a county stockpile of critical air purifiers and supplies, with a feasibility study expected soon. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced three motions at a City Council meeting. Anticipated City Council discussions include funding for Neighborhood Councils for air quality equipment, enhancements to DASH service for Boyle Heights and East L.A., and a fire-related report from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Jurado expressed the urgent need for resident support and clarity about the disaster’s causes.

For nearly a week, families in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles have been living with smoke, odors, ash, disrupted routines, and serious concerns about what this means for their health and well-being,

Jurado noted, highlighting the pervasive anxiety and the need for answers.

Inside MV Automotive, smoke issues at East Olympic Boulevard and Alma Avenue forced Manny Villasenor to close early, using fans to mitigate the impact. One mechanic stayed home due to asthma. At Kassandra’s Beauty Salon, Cristina Medrano canceled several appointments and closed twice due to smoke infiltration. The salon is now cautious about scheduling, wearing masks and keeping doors shut at all times. Medrano voiced concerns over long-term health effects, noting the persistent smell of smoke even in her sleep.

Orozco, facing multiple challenges including the decline of walk-ins due to food delivery services, immigration operations, and inflation, remains hopeful despite these struggles. Life is not always terrible. It will get better, he said, as he looks forward to overcoming current adversities.