California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in response to a large commercial fire burning in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. The decision comes as firefighters continue battling a stubborn blaze at a cold-food storage facility that has been burning for several days.
The emergency order was issued to speed up state support for local agencies handling the incident. The fire has raised concerns about public health, air quality, and the safety of nearby communities.
The fire began on Wednesday at a frozen food storage facility operated by Lineage Logistics Facility. The site stores large quantities of frozen food products, including meat and bread, which has added complexity to the firefighting operation.
Governor Newsom said California is mobilizing resources to assist Los Angeles. He stated that the state is prepared to support emergency operations, protect public health, and help affected residents during both the response and recovery phases.
State authorities are coordinating with local agencies to supply emergency materials. This includes 5.5 million N95 masks, air purifiers, bottled water, and air quality monitoring equipment to reduce health risks caused by smoke exposure.
The declaration came shortly after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also issued a local emergency order. She said the situation had escalated into a serious public health concern, requiring additional state support to manage the crisis effectively.
Fire crews report that the blaze has been difficult to control due to the size and structure of the facility. Although a temporary shelter-in-place order was lifted earlier in the week, flare-ups have continued, and smoke has affected air quality across parts of the region.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials said the fire is stretching emergency resources. Crews are not only working on the Boyle Heights blaze but are also responding to other incidents across the city, creating pressure on available manpower and equipment.
Fire Chief Jaime Moore said state assistance is necessary to maintain safety in the area. He explained that additional support will help relieve strain on local firefighters and improve overall response capacity.
One of the main concerns is the large amount of stored food inside the facility. Officials estimate that more than 85 million pounds of frozen products are inside the building. If these materials continue to thaw and decompose, they could create hazardous gas emissions.
Authorities have also removed refrigerant chemicals such as ammonia to reduce immediate risks. However, officials warn that the decomposing food itself could still create strong odors and potentially harmful gases over time.
Moore said the interior of the building has remained relatively cool, measuring around 45 degrees in some areas. However, he added that conditions are expected to worsen as time passes and firefighting continues.
Air quality officials have issued a smoke advisory for the surrounding region. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a particle pollution warning due to ongoing smoke in the air.
To speed up firefighting efforts, authorities have deployed larger aerial water-drop helicopters capable of carrying up to 3,000 gallons per drop. Fire crews are also using gel-based fire retardants to help smother hot spots more effectively.
Officials say the combination of state emergency resources, air monitoring, and specialized firefighting equipment is essential to controlling the blaze and reducing risks to nearby residents.
The situation remains active, and authorities continue to monitor air quality and structural safety as firefighting operations move forward in Boyle Heights.
