A massive warehouse fire that has been burning for several days has engulfed Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley region in thick smoke, causing the air quality to deteriorate continuously. The warehouse stored 85 million pounds of food that has now rotted, posing a potential biological hazard crisis. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles.
On June 17th (Wednesday) afternoon, a fire broke out at a commercial refrigerated warehouse spanning approximately 500,000 square feet in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles. The flames spread rapidly, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. Firefighters reported that the fire initially focused on the roof but quickly ignited the large area of solar panels installed on the roof, generating a large amount of black smoke.
Fortunately, all employees were evacuated after the incident, and there have been no reports of injuries.
The Los Angeles City Fire Department stated on June 20th (Saturday) that this fire “is a complex and lengthy event that requires ongoing firefighting efforts.” On the same day, the Governor of California and the Mayor of Los Angeles declared a local state of emergency.
Fire officials mentioned that at the time of the incident, there were reports of ammonia leakage and several minor explosions inside the building. Simultaneously, there was an ammonia leak inside the building, causing thick smoke to rise into the air, prompting authorities to issue precautionary “shelter-in-place” orders to nearby residents and businesses.
Firefighters subsequently closed valves and extracted the ammonia gas outside, eliminating the threat of hazardous chemicals. However, the refrigeration systems inside the building had been shut down, putting 85 million pounds of meat, fish, and wheat products at risk of rotting and spoiling.
Jaime Moore, the Chief of the Los Angeles City Fire Department, stated during a press conference on Saturday, “Unfortunately, these food items cannot be saved. What we are facing now is 85 million pounds of food about to rot and spoil… This is a biological hazard emergency, which is why we have requested assistance from the state government.”
As of the afternoon of the 21st, the fire is still burning. Many residents in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley have complained about having to keep their windows and doors closed for the past few days, with the air filled with a strong and pungent smell of smoke. Visibility is low while driving. San Gabriel Valley is one of the most densely populated areas for the Chinese community in Los Angeles.
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) air quality map, since Friday evening, the PM2.5 concentrations in central Los Angeles County, San Gabriel Valley, the eastern part of San Fernando Valley, and the northwest part of San Bernardino Valley have reached levels classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “very unhealthy.”
As of noon on the 21st, the air quality in downtown Los Angeles to Glendale area has been rated as “very unhealthy,” with surrounding areas such as Pasadena also experiencing “unhealthy” air quality.
Officials advise the public to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible. If you smell smoke or see ash, take preventive measures to protect your health, including closing doors and windows, avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, turning on air conditioning/air purifiers, but avoiding the use of evaporative coolers or whole-house fans that bring outdoor air indoors.
Additionally, to assist affected residents, the government has opened two 24-hour temporary shelters – Pecan Rec Center and City Terrace Park.