A community advocacy group is calling for mandatory evacuations near a fire-damaged cold storage warehouse in Boyle Heights, where millions of pounds of decomposing food remain inside and residents have reported foul odors and a growing fly infestation.
Protect LA Now sent a letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Xounty Department of Public Health demanding action following an NBC4 Investigates report about conditions at the Lineage Logistics warehouse.
People living near the facility said they first endured smoke from the dayslong fire in June. They have since reported the stench of decomposing food and large numbers of flies spreading into surrounding neighborhoods.
NBC4 Investigates reviewed a four-page report prepared by a pest control company for the city of Los Angeles. The report warned that green bottle flies found on the Lineage property could reproduce quickly during hot weather and spread into nearby communities. The report also said the flies could transmit myiasis, an infestation in which fly larvae infect an open wound.
“There’s this massive infestation of these flies, which could literally make people not just sick, but kill people,” said Alma Marquez of Protect LA Now. “This is how we have confirmed, finally, that there is information that people have not been sharing with the public. And we’re very grateful to NBC for sharing that with us.”
Marquez said NBC4’s reporting prompted the organization to request the mandatory evacuation of people living near the warehouse. She said air purifiers and other assistance provided to residents are not sufficient.
“We have been advocating on behalf of the families, the communities and the businesses,” Marquez said.
The report warned green bottle flies could grow rapidly in the waste of the Boyle Heights warehouse. Carolyn Johnson reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has cited Lineage for unsanitary and nuisance conditions and has been fining the company $500 a day. Citations were issued over the weekend.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, whose district includes Boyle Heights, said in an emailed statement that evacuation decisions are led by the city of Los Angeles because the warehouse is within city limits.
“Because this incident occurred within the City of Los Angeles, mandatory evacuation decisions are made through the Incident Command structure led by the city and its emergency response agencies, in coordination with the County of Los Angeles’ public health authorities,” Solis said.
Solis said the Department of Public Health issues mandatory evacuation orders “only where there is an imminent risk to life.” In response to questions from NBC4 Investigates, the health department said residents are not currently being ordered to leave.
This comes as LA County plans to issues daily fines against Lineage over unsanitary conditions. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026.
“People are not being required to leave the area,” the department said in an emailed statement. “The Public Health Directive issued on June 29 required Lineage to put in place a Community Exposure Mitigation Plan for the surrounding community.”
The department said the plan includes indoor air quality improvements, temporary respite and relocation options, odor mitigation efforts and communication with residents during the cleanup.
“These measures are intended to help reduce community exposure,” the department said.
Marquez said the group believes the current conditions require a stronger response.
“We’re very concerned that this is a public health crisis,” she said. “We’re not talking about something that is a pie-in-the-sky possibility. It is happening in real time.”
Lineage said it is offering support to affected families.