Los Angeles Boyle Heights Lineage cold storage fire has been extinguished for over a month now. Currently, there are two weeks left until the deadline for cleaning up the burned warehouse. The putrid smell of rotten food and swarms of green bottle flies are seriously bothering the community residents, causing dissatisfaction and concern.
According to the official inspection report released by various public health departments in Los Angeles on the 29th, health inspectors found more dead flies at the base of the northern wall of the cold storage. The floor and storage shelves of Cold Storage 1 were unhygienic, leading to fly infestation. More than 50 live flies were found outside the premises. The inspection report proposed corrective measures and issued fines. As of the week ending on the 29th, the Los Angeles County Health Department had issued 7 citations to Lineage company.
Community resident Rosa Samaniego told Fox11 that the fly infestation has become a catastrophe, preventing them from cooking, and even eating. Flies swarm around whenever there is food on the table. Her son experienced four nosebleeds on the night he returned home from an Airbnb evacuation site.
Considering the health risks involved, the community organization “Protect LA Now,” established after the fire, advocates for urging nearby residents to evacuate forcibly.
All eight school districts affected by the fire in Los Angeles Unified School District are located within a 1-mile radius of the burned warehouse. The school year is set to begin on August 12, earlier than the 14th deadline for the cold storage building and trash cleanup, causing concerns among residents about the impact on the children.
In Lineage company’s latest statement on July 25, they mentioned that nearly half of the rotten food has been cleaned up since the 7th. However, there were reports circulating about the company applying for repair and reconstruction permits, which have been submitted to the Los Angeles County Department of Building and Safety. Residents have expressed opposition to this move.
Los Angeles Mayor Bass commented on Instagram, expressing disbelief that Lineage is already thinking about rebuilding before properly cleaning up the mess they caused. She stated that every day, so many families are suffering from the aftermath of the fire, and Lineage should be fully committed to trash removal. Mayor Bass further noted that all possible measures will be taken to hold the company accountable.
Lineage informed NBCLA that their primary focus remains on swiftly and safely completing the cleanup operations.
According to Lineage’s weekend update, the company is working around the clock on deodorizing, pest control, and food waste cleanup. By last Saturday, the destroyed section of the warehouse (which accounts for almost half of the cold storage building) has been cleaned up, sealed in deodorizing containers, and being transported out. In an effort to minimize odors, plastic sheeting and high-powered filters have been installed.
On their official website, Lineage stated that they understand the residents’ sense of frustration and are equally eager to complete the cleanup promptly. However, they emphasized the complexity of the task at hand, with 88 million pounds of frozen food previously stored in the warehouse, along with structural damage adding to the difficulty of safe cleanup. Coordination with government agencies has also extended the cleaning timeline.
The company mentioned that they have mobilized professional contractors and equipment from across the United States, strictly adhering to safety and environmental requirements for onsite cleanup operations, doing everything possible to expedite progress.
Odor reduction measures include installing deodorizing misting systems around the building, wrapping parts of the structure, utilizing activated carbon filters for odor absorption, sealing and promptly removing food waste bins, and daily cleaning of loading docks and drains, among others.
In order to eliminate flies and rodents, Lineage, with the support of top pest control company Orkin, has expanded pest control measures, installed hundreds of outdoor fly traps, and provided thousands of fly-catching devices to the community.