Lineage Logistics warehouse fire in Boyle Heights sparks health and safety complaints

A large fire that broke out on June 17 at the Lineage Logistics cold‑storage warehouse on Los Palos Street in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights destroyed a facility that held roughly 85 million pounds of food. The prolonged combustion and subsequent cleanup have left rotting food, a foul brown liquid, and a pervasive stench that has attracted rats and flies, prompting dozens of residents to call air‑quality regulators.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a violation notice after receiving more than 40 complaints, citing public‑nuisance rules that prohibit emissions causing injury or annoyance. Lineage has removed hundreds of tons of waste and is distributing air purifiers, masks, hotel vouchers and grocery cards to affected neighbors. Federal officials including Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Jimmy Gomez visited the site and sent a letter to the EPA urging monitoring of air and water quality. Community groups are demanding a mandatory evacuation and compensation for health risks.

The fire’s cause remains under investigation, though Lineage suspects a subcontractor testing a solar‑panel array owned by Altus Power may have sparked the blaze.