Fire erupted at a cold-storage facility in Boyle Heights Wednesday, rapidly spreading across solar paneling on the roof of the sprawling warehouse, while an ammonia leak inside the building prompted shelter-in-place orders for a nearby residents and businesses as thick smoke billowed into the air.
The fire was reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. at a Lineage cold-storage facility in the 1400 block of South Los Palos Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The blaze was initially reported to be primarily burning on the solar panels covering the roof of the 491,000-square-foot structure, and crews appeared to quickly get the upper hand on the flames. But crews on scene then reported an ammonia leak in the building’s interior, and several small explosions occurred, re-invigorating the flames, which sent a thick plume of black smoke into the air in a plume visible for miles.
The intensity of the flames and heightened danger due to the ammonia leak forced LAFD crews to pull away from the structure and assume a defensive posture, pouring water on the structure from the exterior.
As the fire spread, LAFD hose lines were unable to reach parts of the fire, so three water-dropping helicopters were brought to the scene to help halt the flames, dumping thousands of gallons of water onto the building.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for a wide area near the warehouse as dark smoke blanketed the area. The order affected an area south of 101 Freeway to roughly Washington Boulevard, and east of Soto Street to Indiana Street on the west. Residents were advised to remain indoors, close all windows and doors and turn off air conditioning/heating units.
As the smoke continued spreading and concerns heightened about possible toxic fumes, shelter-in-place advisories were issued for residents across an even wider area stretching across East Los Angeles, Vernon and into Commerce. Residents with health issues were particularly advised to heed the recommendation to remain indoors.
No injuries were immediately reported. It was unclear what sparked the blaze.
The solar panels on the same building also caught fire in August 2024, but LAFD crews were able to douse that blaze in less than an hour with no injuries.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents the area, issued a statement saying, “Our office is closely monitoring the fire at the cold storage facility on the 1400 block of South Los Palos Street in Boyle Heights. We know how frightening it is to see heavy smoke in your neighborhood, especially for families, workers, small businesses, and commuters who are trying to understand what is happening and how to stay safe.”