The latest shelter-in-place order for residents around a burning cold-storage facility in Boyle Heights has been lifted, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced Friday.
The fire at the massive cold-storage facility at 1400 S. Los Palos St. broke out Wednesday afternoon. The fire is mostly in the solar-panel-covered roof area. The LAFD previously said the flames reaching an ammonia line had led to several small explosions.
The multi-day effort has been full of challenges for firefighters.
The fire initially grew into a huge inferno, creating a pillar of thick, black smoke that could be seen for miles. The fire reached an ammonia line, triggering several small explosions and a dramatic image of flames shooting through the building roof as crews evacuated the area to avoid the fumes.
Residents in a larger area were told to shelter in place, but that order was lifted later Wednesday night.
Then on Thursday, crews discovered more flames in a different section of the building, prompting them to reinstitute a shelter-in-place order. They lifted that order on Friday just before 11:30 a.m.
“Overnight we were able to evacuate the ammonia tanks that were on site that we were concerned about,” an LAFD official told KTLA during a televised interview. “[They’ve] been removed from the site completely.”
An LAFD alert Friday morning announcing the shelter-in-place order was lifted cautioned that “although smoke in the area has decreased, individuals with sensitivity to smoke should continue to … avoid unnecessary exposure to outdoor air.”
The smoke from the fire also prompted a special particle pollution advisory from the South Coast Air Quality Management District. It is currently set to remain in effect until 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
But other challenges with the fire remain, fire officials said during a news conference Friday.
A cloud of black and white smoke billowed across the sky as fire crews fought a flare-up Friday afternoon. LAFD Battalion Chief Nicholas Ferrari said residents can expect the fire to “ebb and flow” throughout the night.
The building is so big and the flames in such hard-to-reach areas that firefighters have needed to get creative with their approach, using water-dropping helicopters and other heavy equipment.
Ferrari said the fire is complex because the building is a freezer constructed with insulated materials. Within the first hours, fire crews removed the ammonia found in the building’s refrigeration system.
“Initially there were solar panels on fire, including roofing material, nine inches of foam,” a fire official told KTLA 5. “Inside it got into the cold storage, which is piled at least 58 feet high in each rack. There’s a lot of boxes and pallets on fire. Items that could fall on firefighters, which is keeping us from going inside there.”
The official also explained that heavy equipment was used to punch a hole in the wall of the building in order to make areas of the fire more accessible to hoses. Crews are also working on eliminating other hazards that have prevented firefighters from getting inside the structure. This includes lithium-ion battery-powered heavy equipment and high-voltage power lines attached to the solar panels.
“As we remove those hazards, we’re getting closer and closer to getting firefighters inside to get those hose lines where they need to be to completely extinguish the fire,” the official said.
Firefighters confirmed that the building sustained severe structural damage but ruled out the possibility of a complete collapse.
“The fire is demolishing the building and eating it away as long as the fire continues to go on,” Ferrari said. “The walls are already showing signs of bowing and leaning in.”
Mayor Karen Bass urged residents to stay indoors and avoid the affected area, advising anyone who must go outside to wear a mask. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, said local organizations distributed air purifiers and masks to residents within the fire zone.
“This city needed to show decisive action, and we’re here united, making sure that they get equitable city services,” Jurado said. “Great fire service shouldn’t be [relegated] to just the West cities of L.A., but the East sides deserve it just as much.”
L.A. Parks and Recreation general manager Jimmy Kim confirmed that Pecan Recreation Center is open to residents seeking relief from the poor air quality.
“We will not stop applying water,” Ferrari said. “We will not stop fighting fire until this is extinguished, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
But as the fire continued, Monterey Park residents reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area.
“Residents, especially those with health sensitivities, should limit outdoor exposure, remain indoors, and keep windows and doors closed when possible,” Monterey Park city officials said on X.
The nearly 500,000-square-foot warehouse is owned by Lineage Logistics.