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Local emergency declared as Boyle Heights warehouse fire flare-ups persist, smoke drifts beyond area

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Last updated: Sunday, June 21, 2026 1:25AM GMT
Boyle Heights fire flare-ups continue; local emergency declared

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Crews continue to battle flare-ups of the massive warehouse fire in Boyle Heights days after it ignited, as the region sees significant impacts from the smoke.

The inferno began shortly before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at a cold storage facility in the 1400 block of South Los Palos Street.

Mayor Karen Bass issued a local emergency declaration Saturday to mobilize additional resources to the city for the days ahead.

The Los Angeles Fire Department described the massive blaze as a "very complex" fire with numerous hazards for firefighters.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

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Jun 18, 2026, 10:26 PM GMT

New shelter-in-place order issued

A new shelter-in-place order was issued Thursday afternoon as firefighters began ventilating smoke from the facility that burned.

The order covers an area south of the 101 Freeway to roughly Washington Boulevard, east of Lorena Street and west of Indiana Street. Residents in the area west of Lorena Street are being advised that they may see smoke as a result of the ventilation work.

A new shelter-in-place order was issued Thursday in the Boyle Heights area as the Los Angeles Fire Department works to ventilate a warehouse that burned.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.

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Jun 18, 2026, 9:17 PM GMT

Particle pollution advisory extended through Friday

A special particle pollution advisory has been extended through Friday, June 19, at 12:30 p.m., the South Coast Air Quality Management District announced on Thursday.

Officials said the area was checked Wednesday afternoon for measurements of particulate matter and airborne metals.

"Preliminary results from the mobile monitoring showed particulate matter was generally near background levels, however, elevated particulate matter concentrations were observed for a few seconds at a time within the plume," said South Coast AQMD in an update. "During those few seconds, increased levels of bromine and chlorine were also observed."

Bromine and chlorine are typically found at trace levels during structural fires and the levels seen were "below short-term health-based exposure thresholds," the agency said.

Concentrations below that level aren't expected to cause harmful health effects, South Coast AQMD said.

South Coast AQMD also said no significant levels of toxic air metals were seen.

The agency said it will continue to review particulate matter data from its regional air monitors as well as local air quality sensor networks.

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Jun 18, 2026, 7:25 PM GMT

LAFD chief says air is safe to breathe in aftermath of warehouse fire

On the day after a massive fire erupted on the roof of a warehouse in Boyle Heights, LAFD Chief Jaime Moore said Thursday that the air at the scene was again safe to breathe.

"We've been monitoring the air throughout this incident, monitoring the smoke columns, we're monitoring downwind," Moore said at a news conference near the cold storage facility that was still smoldering. "We're monitoring in the building, we're monitoring outside the building, and we're getting absolutely no readings of any concern.

On the day after a massive fire erupted on the roof of a warehouse in Boyle Heights, LAFD Chief Jaime Moore said Thursday that the air at the scene was again safe to breathe.

The fire chief noted that conditions where he and reporters were standing were "clear as can be. The prevailing winds have blown most of the smoke away."

On Thursday, LAFD spokesperson Jennifer Middleton said there was previous concern over the fire burning an ammonia line, but that danger had "dissipated." The roof blaze had been extinguished by late afternoon and firefighters were entering the building to assess the interior, Middleton said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jun 18, 2026, 1:55 PM GMT

Air quality concerns remain as fire smolders

Although the shelter-in-place order has been lifted in Boyle Heights, concerns over air quality remain as the fire continues to smolder.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a particle pollution advisory that will remain in effect through 10 a.m. Thursday. That impacts areas like East Los Angeles, Montebello, downtown L.A. and portions of the San Gabriel Valley.

Although the shelter-in-place order has been lifted in Boyle Heights, concerns over air quality remain as the fire continues to smolder.

People in those areas are advised to limit exposure by staying inside and closing windows and doors and running an air purifier if available.

Meanwhile, crews were still unable to enter the building Thursday morning.