Fire at Boyle Heights Cold-Storage Facility Prompts Shelter-in-Place Orders
A blaze on the roof of a cold-food storage building in Boyle Heights triggered a shelter-in-place advisory and involved more than 130 firefighters, with no injuries reported.
Firefighters responded around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday to a fire on the roof of the Lineage cold-food storage facility at the 1400 block of South Los Palos Street in Boyle Heights. The roof, which is covered with solar panels, was the site of the blaze, and several ladder trucks sprayed water while crews worked on the structure.
The fire reached an ammonia line, prompting a shelter-in-place order for neighborhoods south of the 101 Freeway to Washington Boulevard and east of Soto Street to Indiana Street. Residents were instructed to close windows and doors. An LAFD spokesperson said the ammonia has been contained and is not considered dangerous except for individuals with respiratory conditions.
Because the solar panels remain energized even after the power was shut off, firefighters faced additional challenges. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a city-wide tactical alert to increase officer presence for traffic control and possible evacuations. The city of San Gabriel also advised its residents to shelter in place, though officials said there was no direct threat to that community.
More than 130 LAFD firefighters were assigned to the incident, with assistance from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of reporting.