Los Angeles declares emergency over hazardous chemical fire at Boyle Heights cold‑storage warehouse

A fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in a private cold‑storage warehouse in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The blaze released dangerous chemicals, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to declare a state of emergency so the city could access state resources and support.

City officials ordered a shelter‑in‑place order, advising residents to close windows, doors and ventilation, turn off air‑conditioning and stay indoors. Shelters were opened for families seeking refuge from polluted air. Fire Chief Jaime Moore said firefighters have secured the chemicals but are hampered by zero visibility and the presence of roughly 38 million kilograms of frozen food in the facility. Bass emphasized that protecting public health and preventing an ecological disaster remain the top priorities.