Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass officially declared a local state of emergency on Saturday in response to a large warehouse fire that has continued to burn for multiple days in the city.
The fire broke out on Wednesday in the historic Boyle Heights neighborhood, located near downtown Los Angeles, and has proven difficult to extinguish in the days since.
As part of the emergency declaration, Mayor Bass called on the state government to fast-track access to state and federal resources, as well as disaster relief programs that could aid in the response effort.
The mayor also asked that state officials waive certain regulations that could slow down or interfere with recovery and response operations.
To help residents dealing with smoke and fumes from the ongoing fire, both the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County have established relief locations where affected families can seek assistance.
