Firefighters in Los Angeles worked overnight and into Sunday to control a fire at a large industrial building in the city, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). The fire started in a warehouse in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, causing heavy smoke that spread across parts of the metropolitan area for days.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency in response to the incident on Saturday. The latest update from the LAFD on Sunday mentioned that the fire has been contained to one side of the building. Firefighters had to remove sections of the exterior wall to enhance access and allow water to reach challenging areas.
The structure poses operational challenges due to large storage racks limiting firefighters’ ability to deploy handlines inside. Many solar panels at the site have been deactivated, and numerous lithium-ion batteries have been taken out to reduce risks to firefighters and nearby communities. Fire crews are anticipated to continue suppression operations by applying substantial amounts of water to put out any remaining fire.
Officials cautioned that the volume and color of smoke in surrounding areas may vary as firefighting efforts progress. Currently, there are no evacuation orders or shelter-in-place directives in effect. However, a smoke advisory remains for areas east of Boyle Heights. Residents sensitive to smoke were advised to monitor air quality alerts issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure.
