Fire officials are advising residents of Los Angeles to remain indoors as smoke from a warehouse fire that started a few days ago spreads through the city.
The fire began on Wednesday at a cold storage facility owned by Lineage Logistics in Boyle Heights and quickly escalated into a hazardous materials situation before firefighters could bring it under control.
On Thursday, the fire reignited, leading authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order. By Saturday morning, smoke was visible in various parts of the city, and many residents expressed concerns about the smoky air.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) recommended that people keep their windows closed and use air conditioning, citing dangerous “combustion products” released from the facility. “These combustion products are not good for anyone to breathe,” a spokesperson from LAFD noted.
Many residents, some as far away as Century City, reported smelling the smoke, which indicates the fire’s reach.
Fire officials expressed that the situation has resulted in air quality concerns, particularly in areas like Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Hollywood, which were deemed unhealthy as of Saturday morning. Captain Branden Silverman of the LAFD mentioned that their aggressive firefighting efforts had contributed to the increased smoke.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and officials believe it could persist for several days or even weeks. While Silverman stated that no harmful substances have been confirmed in the smoke, he acknowledged that, in general, no smoke is ideal to inhale.
As residents continue to deal with the smoke, the situation remains fluid, with fire authorities still monitoring the fire’s progression.
