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A massive fire at a 500,000-square-foot frozen food storage facility in Los Angeles's Boyle Heights neighborhood has burned for days, with firefighters battling from outside due to insulated construction and heavy shelving. The blaze, possibly started by solar panel workers, stores 85 million pounds of food and threatens regional air quality with hazardous PM2.5 smoke.
A major fire continues to burn at a massive frozen food storage facility in the Boyle Heights neighborhood east of downtown Los Angeles. The roughly 500,000-square-foot warehouse, operated by Michigan-based Lineage Logistics and known as the Big Bear facility, is covered in solar panels and heavily insulated like a freezer, creating a challenging environment for firefighters.
The blaze, which broke out on Wednesday, has been burning for several days and is expected to take at least a few more days to extinguish, with some cold storage fires capable of burning for weeks. The facility stores approximately 85 million pounds of frozen food including seafood, pork, beef, and poultry destined for grocery stores and restaurants across the U.S. West Coast.
Firefighters have been unable to enter the building due to the danger posed by extensive floor-to-ceiling steel rack shelving and the inability to quickly ventilate the roof because of the heavy insulation, which would normally allow them to release gas and smoke and gain visibility. Instead, they are fighting the blaze from the outside by stripping away exterior walls on certain sides and dousing the structure with heavy streams of water.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Jamie Stewart explained that the thick smoke and poor visibility make it too dangerous to commit personnel inside, stating that the fire's persistence is typical for cold storage facilities due to their insulated construction. Lineage Logistics stated that the fire is believed to have started when subcontractors were working on solar panels on the roof, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The prolonged fire is having significant air quality impacts on the surrounding community.
Air quality officials extended a warning about hazardous air conditions through Tuesday afternoon, noting that smoke from the blaze is carrying dangerous microscopic particles known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs. The working-class Boyle Heights neighborhood has been especially affected, with residents advised to avoid vigorous physical activity, keep windows and doors closed, turn off air conditioning, and seek shelter inside. Those who must go outside are urged to wear N95 or P100 masks.
Light winds are causing the smoke to drift in various directions, potentially impacting other parts of metropolitan Los Angeles, including the San Gabriel Valley. The situation underscores the unique challenges posed by modern, highly insulated cold storage facilities and the broader public health risks associated with large-scale industrial fires in urban areas
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