A Boyle Heights cancer patient alleges the June warehouse fire exposed nearby residents to hazardous air and forced him to take costly measures to protect his health
A Boyle Heights cancer patient filed a lawsuit Thursday against Lineage Inc., alleging the company’s negligence exposed nearby residents to hazardous smoke and foul odors after a fire broke out at its food storage warehouse June 17.
Eric Lara, who lives 1.5 miles from the warehouse, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. Lara says he leaves home regularly for cancer treatment and has experienced discomfort from lingering smoke and air quality concerns since the fire.
According to the lawsuit, Lara purchased multiple air purifiers, paid higher utility bills to run his air conditioning, and could face medical expenses related to respiratory issues.
Lara also named Altus Power, the company that owns the warehouse’s rooftop solar system, as a defendant. Lineage officials previously said they believe testing on the solar equipment may have sparked the fire, though investigators have not announced an official cause.
The June fire sent thick smoke across Boyle Heights and surrounding communities while millions of pounds of spoiled food produced a persistent odor that prompted health complaints and regulatory violations.
Cleanup crews have removed nearly half of the 85 million pounds of spoiled food from the warehouse. Crews will next demolish the remaining sections of the damaged building, a process officials say could temporarily intensify the odor as cleanup continues.