Firefighters continue battling Los Angeles warehouse fire as smoke persists
Los Angeles, June 22
Firefighters in the US city of Los Angeles continued efforts overnight and into Sunday to contain a fire at a large industrial building in the city, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
The fire broke out at a large warehouse in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, generating heavy smoke that has spread across parts of the metropolitan area for several days.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Saturday declared a local emergency in response to the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to the latest update from the LAFD on Sunday, crews have successfully confined the fire to one side of the building.
Firefighters removed sections of the exterior wall overnight to improve access and allow water to reach areas that had been difficult to extinguish.
The LAFD said the structure presents significant operational challenges, as large storage racks limit firefighters' ability to safely deploy handlines inside the building.
Many solar panels at the site have been de-energized, and multiple lithium-ion batteries have been removed, significantly reducing risks to firefighters and nearby communities, according to the LAFD.
Fire crews are expected to continue suppression operations throughout the day, applying large volumes of water to extinguish remaining fire.
Officials warned that the volume and color of smoke visible in surrounding areas may fluctuate as firefighting efforts continue.
No evacuation orders or shelter-in-place directives are currently in effect, according to the LAFD.
A smoke advisory remains in place 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.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's good that they declared a local emergency. In India, we often see such delays in response times. Here, they seem proactive about public safety and air quality.
Burning for days? That smoke must be terrible for asthma patients and elderly. Hope residents are using masks and staying indoors as advised. Air quality matters everywhere. 🌫️
While I appreciate the firefighting efforts, why did it take so long to de-energize the solar panels? Shouldn't that be standard protocol for industrial sites? A bit of a lapse in planning.
It's reassuring that there are no evacuation orders yet. But the fluctuating smoke is concerning. Wouldn't want to be living in Boyle Heights area right now. Hope they contain it fully soon. 🤞
Warehouse fires are a nightmare for firefighters anywhere. The large storage racks make it so tricky. Hats off to the LAFD for working overnight. Truly, 'service before self'. 🇮🇳 supports LA!
Respectful criticism: The article mentions solar panels and batteries were de-energized only after the fire started. That's reactive, not proactive. Should be a lesson for all industrial parks to have better fire safety audits.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.