The Los Angeles Fire Department was taking a “wait and see,” approach to handing a fire-damaged cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights back to its operator, Lineage Logistics, officials told City News Service Saturday.
The department had said control of the facility would likely be turned over the company by Friday, two days after firefighters finally doused the stubborn blaze that broke out on June 17 and sent massive amounts of smoke into the atmosphere for several days.
But the LAFD’s Lyndsey Lantz told CNS on Saturday that the plan is to hand it back to them on Monday — “free from fire department presence.”
Firefighters managed to save half of the nearly 500,000-square-foot facility, although the entire structure suffered extensive smoke and water damage. The half of the building impacted directly by the fire was largely dismantled during the firefight, and will likely be torn down in its entirety, fire officials said.
However, tons of food remain spoiling in the cold-storage food warehouse more than a week after the raging fire broke out. On Thursday, those at the scene reported and residents complained about the smell of rotting food permeating the air outside the facility.
In a statement Thursday, Lineage officials said the company has already hired Signal Restoration Services, “an industry-leading cleanup firm,” to spearhead cleaning efforts at the site.
“To move forward as quickly as possible, we urge the government agencies involved to promptly address any permitting or other approvals necessary to begin cleanup.”
Lineage noted that no hazardous materials are stored at the facility, and “robust plans for disinfection, odor control and pest control will be implemented.”
“We are exploring multiple avenues to minimize disruption to the community, including the use of water-tight trailers and containers to transport waste offsite,” according to the company.
Firefighters moved into the overhaul phase of operations Wednesday night, after knockdown of the fire was at 1400 S. Los Palos St. was declared at 5:58 p.m. LAFD Chief Jamie Moore noted there is still substantial work remaining to overhaul the structure — most notably disposing of the roughly 85 million pounds of frozen food that was in the warehouse.
A resource center for those affected by the fire was open this weekend at the East Los Angeles Library at 4837 E. Third St. The center was open from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and would also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through July 4, according to Los Angeles County officials.
Mayor Karen Bass said she will be issuing an executive order designed to “mobilize additional resources for Boyle Heights, as we enter the remediation and cleanup stage, including limiting the impacts as much as possible related to the cleanup of 85 million pounds of food.”
Bass said air purifiers and masks are still being made available to residents, and mobile health clinics are being brought into the community. Smoke conditions in the surrounding area have improved significantly.
On Sunday, Bass sought to place the fire in the context of other environmental disasters that have struck industrial areas of the city.
“People who are familiar with Boyle Heights know this fire did not happen in a vacuum. Environmental hazards have too often fallen on communities like this one,” Bass posted on X. “This moment must be a turning point. We will hold those responsible accountable, and we will fight to change the longstanding systemic failures that have left Boyle Heights disproportionately impacted by industrial incidents. I want to thank the people of Boyle Heights for continuing to make their voices heard. The recovery stage will be shaped by you.”
Moore said the city’s Emergency Management Department, Sanitation Department and other agencies were actively involved in the overhaul operations “to make sure that we continue to protect the community here in Boyle Heights.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Lineage officials have said they believe the fire started while a subcontractor working for Altus Power, which owns the solar array on top of the building, was conducting tests on the panels.
Altus officials issued a statement saying no cause of the fire has yet been determined, and insisting the company was cooperating with investigators.