Firefighters Battle Huge Warehouse Fire in Boyle Heights

A large warehouse in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles caught fire, sending thick black smoke into the sky. The building at 1400 S. Los Palos Street is used to store food products. Because of the dangerous smoke, officials told people in nearby areas to stay inside and close all windows and doors. The fire appeared to keep growing as firefighters worked to control it.

Los Angeles Fire Department crews arrived quickly, but the fire kept spreading. Around 3:25 p.m., firefighters were told to leave the roof because flames had moved across the building's solar panels. Water-dropping helicopters also flew in to help crews who were fighting the fire from tall aerial ladders. The combination of smoke and flames made it a very difficult fire to fight.

The warehouse belongs to a company called Lineage, which offers cold storage and shipping services for businesses. Lineage released a statement saying the safety of its workers and the community was its top priority. The company said it was working with local officials and first responders to handle the situation. It promised to share more updates as they became available.

This was not the first time this building had caught fire. In August 2024, more than 70 firefighters were called to the same location for a roof fire. They were able to put out the flames in under an hour that time, keeping the fire limited to part of the solar panel system. This new fire appeared to be much harder to control.

The LAFD issued a shelter-in-place order for parts of Boyle Heights due to the hazardous smoke. The order told residents to get inside immediately, close all windows and doors, and turn off air conditioning or heating. People were also told to bring their pets inside and close all vents until they received more instructions. Officials said they would let people know when it was safe to go outside again.

Light south and southwest winds were carrying the smoke toward the east. A local weather expert said nearby neighborhoods like Vernon and Commerce would also be affected by the drifting smoke. The South Coast Air Quality Management District said it was sending an inspector to the scene and checking air quality data from monitors across the region. Anyone who could see or smell smoke was urged to stay indoors and run an air purifier if they had one.

City leaders urged residents to stay calm and follow safety instructions. Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, said she knew how frightening it was for families to see heavy smoke near their homes. She said the most important thing people could do was follow the shelter-in-place order. Mayor Karen Bass and County Supervisor Hilda Solis also called on residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.