Los Angeles County health officials announced that Lineage Logistics — the company at the center of last month’s warehouse fire in Boyle Heights — is facing $500 daily fines after being cited Thursday for “unsanitary and nuisance conditions.”
The administrative citation was issued in connection with rodent and pest control violations stemming from the large amount of food that began rotting at the facility after the fire broke out on June 17. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the conditions created “an ongoing odor nuisance affecting nearby communities.”
The department said violations noted in an inspection report from July 15 were not addressed before a reinspection on Tuesday, prompting the citation.
Tuesday’s inspection report indicated that decaying organic waste, wastewater, sludge and food residue were present at the facility and supporting the breeding of flies. Live and dead flies and fly larvae were also observed, according to the report.
To stop the fines, Public Health said Lineage will have to take corrective actions, such as removing all fire-damaged food and potential fly-breeding sources, having a licensed pest control operator treat active breeding areas and taking measures to prevent flies from moving into neighboring areas.
Public Health said it will continue conducting assessments and added that more citations could be issued if the company fails to comply.
The food is in the process of being removed from the warehouse.