Stephany Brizuela, East L.A. Community Resource Center staff
When the Lineage Fire burned at a warehouse in Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles for more than a week in June, thick smoke and hazardous particulates spread across surrounding neighborhoods. Residents were urged to stay indoors with windows and doors closed, as firefighters worked around the clock to contain the fire.
But for nearby resident Marcos Mancilla, avoiding the smoke was nearly impossible. Despite keeping his home sealed, smoke continued to seep inside. With temperatures in the 90s, his three fans running day and night did little more than circulate warm, smoky air.
Mancilla was among more than 600 families who received air purifiers from the L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers in East L.A. and Lincoln Heights. The East L.A. Center also distributed approximately 2,500 N95 masks to community members.
“I was very surprised, it’s a very nice purifier,” said Mancilla, after picking up masks and an air purifier on the first day of distribution at the East L.A. Center. “This will really help clean the air in my house.”
The East L.A. Center is a familiar resource for Mancilla, who began attending health education and fitness classes on-site after experiencing a heart attack in November. Looking to take a more active role in his health, he now participates in weekly classes to learn tips and help manage his chronic health conditions.
“When you’re with your doctor, you only have 15 minutes during your visit to talk about your health,” Mancilla said. “Here, you learn how to make real changes in your lifestyle — what to eat to control a fatty liver, how to manage your diabetes — important tips and information that you can use in your daily routines.”
The Centers in East L.A. and Lincoln Heights are two of 14 Community Resource Centers jointly operated by L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise across Los Angeles County. The Centers serve as comfortable and familiar places, and provide free health education, wellness programs, and community services, open to anyone in the community.
“As the Lineage Fire burned for several days, families were doing everything they could to stay safe, yet many lacked the tools to protect the air inside their homes,” said Iris Gomez, site manager at the East L.A. Center. “We moved quickly to provide masks and air purifiers because our responsibility is clear: meet communities where they are and deliver support when it matters most, while continuing the programs our communities depend on every day.”
Supporting communities during emergencies is a long-standing part of the Centers’ mission. In 2025, when wildfires impacted communities across Los Angeles County, the Centers helped hundreds of families access emergency housing, food, and other critical resources. In November, when a federal government shutdown delayed food assistance benefits, the Centers helped distribute more than 26,000 grocery gift cards to community members in need.
“The support residents received during the Boyle Heights warehouse fire reflects Blue Shield Promise and L.A. Care’s shared commitment to addressing the real-world factors that impact health and well-being,” said Jennifer Schirmer, vice president of growth and community engagement at Blue Shield Promise. “From emergency response to ongoing health education, our Community Resource Centers provide meaningful, accessible support that strengthens individuals, families, and communities.”
Read related tips on how to stay safe when air quality is bad: Staying Safe When Air Quality Is Bad | Blue Shield of California | News Center
To find your nearest Community Resource Center, visit Our Locations | Community Resource Center. To learn more about Blue Shield Promise, visit www.blueshieldca.com/promise.
Marcos Mancilla at East L.A. Community Resource Center
With East L.A. Center site manager Iris Gomez
