Mayor Karen Bass Saturday issued a declaration of local emergency to mobilize additional resources for the city in the days ahead to address a large fire at a cold storage facility in Boyle Heights.
“While the LAFD continues making progress, this is a major, multi-jurisdictional incident,” Bass said in a statement Saturday afternoon. “I’m issuing an emergency declaration to ensure the city has the resources it needs as this operation continues and to keep the community safe. The city and county have opened spaces for families seeking relief from the smoke, and we will continue working around the clock and doing everything possible to put this fire out completely.”
The city opened a 24-hour-a-day smoke-relief center at Pecan Recreation Center, located at 145 S. Pecan St., which will serve the community until further notice. Meanwhile, the county opened a smoke-respite center at City Terrace Park, located at 1126 N. Hazard Ave.
The emergency declaration does several things, including:
— Directs the city’s Emergency Operations Organization to be immediately activated and to take “such steps as may be necessary or appropriate for the protection of life, health or property.”
— Directs all city departments impacted by this event, and its ongoing effects, to conduct damage assessments and collect any relevant cost estimates.
— Requests that the governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the state expedite access to state and federal resources and any other appropriate disaster relief programs.
During news conference Saturday afternoon, Bass said she and her colleagues understand residents are fearful, and they are prepared to address their concerns. She emphasized that they have been in communication with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.
“We basically told the governor that we will be in touch from the county and the city in terms of ongoing requests for mutual aid, as well as monetary assistance, so that we can get this job done,” Bass said.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis, who represents East L.A., said she will introduce a motion on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency as well.
“I am appealing to the governor and to our legislature to help us, especially our L.A. delegation,” Solis said during the news conference.
The supervisor urged residents to seek refuge at the emergency centers. Solis encouraged them to bring their pets as well. There will be a mobile healthcare unit present in case people need medical assistance.
Residents can also receive face masks, and air filters, if they live in the affected area. Solis emphasized the emergency is public health and safety issue.
“I’m deeply concerned about the impacts on our residents,” Solis said. “…The radius of the fire extends to about 2.5 miles in unincorporated East Los Angeles. We’re talking about 250,000 households. It goes well beyond the cities impacted.”
Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents the 14th Council District, which includes Boyle Heights, said the emergency declaration is crucial because the hazards go beyond just the fire.
The councilwoman noted she and her team have been on the ground, listening to families, checking in on neighbors, and going door-to-door.
“Residents have lived through days of smoke, shelter-in-place orders, disruptions to daily life and ongoing questions about what this means for their health and well-being,” Jurado said in a statement Saturday.
She emphasized that residents should not have to carry this burden of this emergency alone.
“My office will continue to work alongside our partners that are up here today as a unified front to make sure that Boyle Heights gets the resources, information, and support its needs — not just today, but throughout the recovery process,” Jurado said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom had also been briefed on the warehouse fire, according to a social media post from his office.
“@Cal_OES and @CaliforniaEPA are actively working to support local response efforts and protect the public from smoke impacts. We urge residents to monitor and adhere to local guidance,” according to the online post.
The blaze began shortly after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lineage Logistics, a cold storage facility that stores food at 1400 S. Los Palos St., near the downtown rail yards. The blaze rapidly spread across solar panels on the roof of the 491,000-square-foot warehouse, while an ammonia leak developed inside the building and thick smoke billowed into the air, prompting shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents and businesses.
Later that day, fire officials reported the spread of the fire had been halted, and the shelter-in-place order was lifted. But as a result of changing winds, the fire re-ignited inside the building, and by Friday firefighters were again battling flames and conducting overhaul operations as smoke continued to rise from the damaged structure.
No injuries had been reported as of Saturday afternoon.
A special Particle Pollution Advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District was extended Saturday until at least 12:30 p.m. June 21.
“Regulatory monitors and sensors show that PM2.5 levels reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Very Unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI) categories since Friday night in the areas of central Los Angeles Country, San Gabriel Valley, East San Fernando Valley and Northwest San Bernardino Valley,” the SCAQMD stated.
The advisory does not constitute a shelter-in-place order, and though fire officials said no toxic or hazardous materials were detected in the smoke, concerns were mounting about the possible health effects of massive amounts of spoiled food.
