A massive warehouse near downtown Los Angeles went up in flames Wednesday afternoon, darkening the skies over the area and forcing officials to issue shelter-in-place orders because of dangerous air quality concerns.
Crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at the scene around 2:30 p.m., where thick, dark smoke was rising over the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Video from local television stations captured flames consuming the roof of the large structure, which was outfitted with solar panels.
Shortly after the fire broke out, officials sent an emergency alert to the surrounding community warning of “hazardous materials nearby.” Residents were directed to shut all windows, doors, and vents, switch off air conditioning systems, and move themselves and their pets to an interior room of their home.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Jennifer Middleton addressed concerns about the fire potentially burning through an ammonia line, saying that risk had “dissipated.” By late afternoon, the fire on the roof had been put out and crews were moving inside the building to evaluate conditions, according to Middleton.
The warehouse is identified online as a cold storage facility owned by Lineage Logistics, used for storing frozen and other temperature-sensitive products. The property spans 491,000 square feet — roughly 45,600 square meters — according to the company’s website. Lineage Logistics had not responded to a request for comment as of the time of this report.
