Boyle Heights Response & Recovery

Lineage August 3 Update: Approximately 80% of Food Waste Removed

Since commencing cleanup on July 7, Lineage has removed approximately 80% percent of food waste and continues to execute the fastest and safest possible cleanup. Our goal is to complete bulk food waste removal from the site next week.

Every day, hundreds of workers, contractors and experts are on-site working around the clock to accelerate the cleanup, reduce odors, protect public health, and provide direct assistance to impacted residents. Our pest and odor mitigation efforts to date are detailed below.

Please watch this video of the site to view progress as of July 30.

Lineage has consistently and transparently reported on its progress through the Boyle Heights Unified Recovery Command led by the City of Los Angeles (which includes dozens of City and County departments as well as the Mayor’s Office, Supervisor District 1 and Council District 14), through daily reporting and multiple weekly meetings. A full list of agencies in receipt of daily progress reports is provided below.

Lineage has also prioritized transparency and open communication with the public, providing frequent, bilingual updates via dedicated website and social media channels, as well as direct channels like email, a bilingual phone line, and online request form for community members to ask questions and share concerns.

To support the community through recovery, we have also provided more than $3.3 million in aid. More information on our community outreach efforts to date can be found below.

PEST & ODOR CONTROL MITIGATION EFFORTS INCLUDE:

• Fixed odor-control spray systems to deodorize the air and odorous material are deployed around the site, as well as a tracked robotic spray system
• Odor neutralizer is applied to waste materials multiple times each day
• Portions of the building are wrapped to help keep odors contained
• Nine industrial air scrubbers that pull air through carbon filters are activated to help absorb odors
• Water is collected and pumped into an onsite wastewater tank that is covered and connected to vapor recovery
• Daily cleaning of runoff collection areas, loading zones and drains, takes place
• The roll-off bins into which food waste is loaded are sealed immediately once full; these sealed bins then leave as soon as possible
• Once trucks are loaded, they promptly leave the facility in accord with approved truck routes
• Continuous monitoring of air quality and sharing air monitoring data with both local regulators and the public occurs; air monitoring information and an interactive map is available here
• Lineage has expanded its pest-control efforts with support from Orkin to help reduce fly and rodent activity around the site and minimize impacts on nearby residents and businesses; some of the steps currently in place include:
  • Daily fly-control treatments, with additional service added if needed
  • Daily inspections of the property perimeter for signs of rodent activity
  • Rodent-control devices installed around the site in strategic locations
  • Up to 248 exterior fly-control devices installed, including bait stations and fly traps, to help reduce fly populations
  • Targeted fly treatments around dumpsters, loading areas, drainage areas, fence lines, and other locations where flies are most active
  • Ongoing monitoring to track pest activity and adjust control measures as needed
  • Sanitation cleanup efforts to remove materials and conditions that can attract pests or create breeding areas

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

From the beginning, Lineage has been committed to helping in every way – starting with sourcing high-powered water cannons supported by a private firefighting crew from Texas, funding helicopters for water drops and, before the fire was out, distributing air purifiers and masks to the community, and feeding residents and firefighters.

Lineage’s community support efforts total more than $3.3 million.  

Lineage has conducted door-to-door outreach to the nearly 800 households closest to the warehouse — those identified by the City and County as being most directly impacted. To date, the outreach team has contacted approximately 87 percent of these households and continues to return to homes that have not yet been reached.

As of August 3, households in the immediate neighborhood have received:

• 599 air purifiers
• 651 portable air-conditioning units
• 562 N95 masks
• 638 cases of bottled water
• ~350 fly traps
• 1,223 grocery vouchers totaling $122,300
• 113 cash-assistance cards totaling $113,000

Eligible households are also offered temporary relocation assistance, utility bill assistance, pest-control supplies, and information about additional community resources.

These direct neighborhood efforts build on the broader support Lineage has provided since the earliest days of the fire. Lineage contributed $2 million to the California Community Foundation, with funds distributed to more than 20 organizations (see the list) for air purifiers and PPE, food and household supplies, medical and mental health services, housing assistance, cash assistance, small business support, and community outreach. 

To support requests for temporary housing, Lineage donated $100,000 to United Way 211. In addition, Lineage has provided resources across the broader Boyle Heights community, including 655 air purifiers, 7,051 cases of bottled water, 2,533 prepared meals, 3,260 N95 masks, and 7,000 meal cases distributed through the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

GOVERNMENT & AGENCY TRANSPARENCY

Lineage has made transparency and open communication a priority throughout the response and recovery effort. We have maintained ongoing, consistent communication with local, county, state, and federal agencies, as well as elected officials, throughout the entire fire response, cleanup, and recovery process.

This includes:

• Publishing daily reports and regularly sharing information regarding site conditions, cleanup activities, air monitoring results, and recovery plans, while also responding to agency and stakeholder questions as part of an ongoing meeting schedule with the Boyle Heights Unified Recovery Command, which includes representatives from many offices and agencies. Those offices and agencies include:
  • The Mayor's Office, Los Angeles City Council offices (including CD-14), the Emergency Management Department, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Water and Power, Board of Public Works, Recreation and Parks, City Administrative Office, and City Attorney's Office. County participants have included the Office of Emergency Management, Department of Public Health, Department of Public Works, County Fire Department, Board of Supervisors staff, County Counsel, and other county agencies. State and regional partners have included Cal OES, CalEPA, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, among others.
• Participating in briefings, meetings, and site visits to provide updates and ensure officials have current information about response and recovery efforts. This includes:
  • A weekly meeting with representatives from CD-14, the Mayor’s Office, County Supervisor’s Office, and more than 20 Boyle Heights community organizations including Proyecto Pastoral, Dolores Mission, Inclusive Action, and Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) focused on Lineage’s door-to-door canvassing and community impact efforts.
• A weekly meeting with representatives from CD-14, the Mayor’s Office, County Supervisor’s Office, LA Emergency Management Department (EMD), LA County Emergency Management (OEM), State Senator’s Office, LAUSD, LAFD and the Department of Public Health to discuss community impact efforts and overall cleanup progress.
• No agency officials who have requested a site tour or arrived unannounced have been turned away from inspecting the facility firsthand. We believe it is important that officials and regulators understand the complexity and challenges of this situation so we can work cooperatively on the fastest cleanup possible without sacrificing health, safety and regulatory compliance.

Our teams are working around the clock on cleanup and recovery and communicating the challenges we face to meet the 45-day deadline set in the Mayor’s executive order. To date, no city, county or state officials have offered resources that would expedite cleanup efforts beyond those that Lineage had already deployed.

We strongly disagree with the characterization of Lineage’s cleanup efforts and transparency. We will continue cleaning up the site around the clock, providing daily reports to officials and regulators, posting frequent updates on our dedicated landing page and social media channel, and providing resources to the Boyle Heights community.

Since gaining full access to the site on the evening of July 6, Lineage has removed more than 60 percent of food waste and continues to execute the fastest and safest possible cleanup. Every day, hundreds of workers, contractors and experts are on-site working around the clock to accelerate the cleanup, reduce odors, protect public health, and provide direct assistance to impacted residents.

Lineage has conducted door-to-door outreach to the nearly 800 households closest to the warehouse — those identified by the City and County as being most directly impacted. To date, the outreach team has contacted approximately 85 percent of these households and continues to return to homes that have not yet been reached.

As of July 28, households in the immediate neighborhood have received:

• 594 air purifiers
• 645 portable air-conditioning units
• 559 N95 masks
• 633 cases of bottled water
• 1,215 grocery vouchers of $100 each
• 113 cash-assistance cards totaling $113,000

Eligible households are also offered temporary relocation assistance, utility bill assistance, pest-control supplies, and information about additional community resources.

This direct neighborhood efforts build on the broader support Lineage has provided since the earliest days of the fire. Lineage contributed $2 million to the California Community Foundation, with funds distributed to more than 20 organizations (click to view the list) for air purifiers and PPE, food and household supplies, medical and mental health services, housing assistance, cash assistance, small business support, and community outreach. To support requests for temporary housing, Lineage donated $100,000 to United Way 211. In addition, Lineage has provided resources across the broader Boyle Heights community, including 655 air purifiers, 7,051 cases of bottled water, 2,533 prepared meals, 3,260 N95 masks, and 7,000 meal cases distributed through the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

We are working around the clock on odor control, pest control and the removal of food waste and we will not stop until the site is clean and the community can move forward. Cleaning up a site with this much food waste is an enormous undertaking and we understand why regulators are watching closely — we would expect nothing less. As more waste is removed and our cleanup efforts progress, we expect conditions to continue to improve. The citations simply reflect the reality of what we’re dealing with not a lack of urgency or commitment on our part. In the full interest of transparency, we are sharing our response to public health officials which was submitted earlier this week. We are moving as fast and safely as we can and doing everything we can for this community until the cleanup is finished.

Lineage Update on AQMD/Odor Control

Los Angeles, Calif., July 22, 2026 — Lineage last evening submitted its official response regarding odor mitigation efforts to AQMD per the deadline set by the agency.

Most of the measures proposed by AQMD had already been implemented or are in process. Lineage is in active discussions with AQMD to implement all reasonable and effective mitigation efforts throughout the cleanup process. 

Lineage’s odor control steps include:

• Building is surrounded by odor control sprayers
• Lineage is applying odor neutralizer to the waste multiple times per day
• The building is wrapped where possible to contain odor
• Carbon filters are attached to portions of the building to mitigate emissions, with additional units expected to be installed
• Daily washing of areas with runoff and loading areas, and emptying and washing of drains used to collect runoff
• Food waste is being transported in sealed containers meeting federal requirements
• Truck tires are washed before they leave the property
• Loaded trucks are immediately sealed and no loaded trucks remain on the property for more than 12 hours

Detailed air monitoring information and an interactive map is available at: https://www.onelineage.com/boyle-heights-fire-response/air-monitoring-data

“Lineage is committed to the fastest and safest cleanup possible, including aggressive efforts to reduce odors and monitor air quality throughout the process” said Alex Rodriguez, Vice President of Operations at Lineage. “We are committed to working closely with South Coast AQMD to address concerns and mitigate the impact of the warehouse fire on the surrounding community.”

<h2>Lineage Commits Direct Relief to Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles Residents as Cleanup Accelerates</h2>

<p><strong>More than $2.5 million already deployed, Lineage expands support to reach impacted residents living closest to the warehouse site</strong></p>

<p><strong>Los Angeles, Calif., July 9, 2026</strong> — Lineage, Inc. today announced expanded commitments to the Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles community as part of the Company's ongoing response to the Los Palos fire.</p>

<p>After listening directly to residents, community organizations and city officials, Lineage is expanding its support beyond its initial $2.5 million contributions. These new commitments include the following support for residents living closest to the warehouse site:</p>

<ul>
 <li><strong>Housing Vouchers:</strong> Partnering with a local non-profit, Lineage will provide short-term hotel and rental assistance to residents who choose to temporarily relocate during the cleanup and remediation process.</li>
 <li><strong>Air Purifiers, Air Conditioners and Masks:</strong> We will deliver air purifiers, air conditioners and masks directly to the residents who need and want them.</li>
 <li><strong>Grocery Vouchers:</strong> Lineage will share these to be redeemable at Food4Less on Olympic Boulevard.</li>
 <li><strong>Cash Assistance:</strong> Residents can receive direct assistance through pre-paid cards.</li>
 <li><strong>Utility Support:</strong> Supporting residents’ utility bills through LADWP.</li>
</ul>

<p>“We recognize the profound impact this fire has had on our neighbors in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles,” said Jeff Rivera, Chief Operating Officer, who is leading on-the-ground response operations for Lineage. “Our expanded support today is the direct result of listening to nearby residents and community leaders and acting on what we have heard. We have been here throughout this situation, we will continue to be here, and we will keep listening, for as long as this recovery requires.”</p>

<p>“The people living and working in the community deserve timely results and meaningful support,” added Greg Lehmkuhl, Chief Executive Officer of Lineage. “Over the last several days, we have been meeting with local elected officials and engaging community organizations and leaders to understand how we can best help our neighbors. At the same time, debris removal is underway and cleanup is progressing. Right now, our top priority is simple: get this site cleaned up as quickly and safely as possible.”</p>

<p>To date, Lineage's community support has included approximately $2.5 million committed in direct assistance, distributed across 26 community-based organizations. More than 600 air purifiers and 2,000 masks have been delivered to residents, and 7,000 meals have been distributed in partnership with the LA Regional Food Bank across four food truck locations serving the neighborhood. Lineage is also deploying a dedicated neighborhood outreach team to listen, share information and resources, and gather feedback directly from residents.</p>

<p>Information will be shared with residents of the neighborhood on how to access resources from Lineage.</p>

<p>Debris removal officially commenced on July 6, and meaningful progress is underway across the site.</p>

<p>In addition to core debris removal, Lineage has wrapped portions of the building with a temporary enclosure barrier to help contain debris, reduce odors and dampen noise for neighboring residents. Misting systems are operating continuously around the building exterior to further reduce smells. Cleanup crews remain on site around the clock.</p>

<p>A formal phased removal schedule — targeting completion within 45 days — is being finalized for submission to the City.</p>

<p>Lineage is committed to providing regular cleanup updates to the community through its website, social media, door-to-door outreach, printed flyers and ongoing community meetings. For the latest information, cleanup progress updates and community resources, please visit: <a href="https://www.onelineage.com/lospalos">onelineage.com/lospalos</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Media Contact</strong><br>
Megan Hendricksen<br>
VP, Global Marketing &amp; Communications<br>
<a href="mailto:pr@onelineage.com">pr@onelineage.com</a></p>

We were pleased to meet with city officials and community leaders today, the latest in our ongoing effort to listen and engage with the Boyle Heights and East LA community. Nothing matters more right now than completing demolition and cleanup as quickly and safely as possible to protect the health and safety of Boyle Heights and East LA. We are working urgently to remove fire-impacted food and debris and are committed to this community every step of the way. We will have an update on next steps in the coming days.

Dear Mayor Bass and Supervisor Solis:

We write to inform you of a serious obstacle to the remediation you have ordered.

Lineage was prepared and permitted to begin demolition work on the Los Palos site this morning, consistent with your Emergency Executive Orders and County Public Health Directive of June 29.

Our work is staged and debris is pre-treated and ready to move. LAFD’s investigators have confirmed they do not require us to halt this work. Demolition is required to address flare ups and extinguish the fire once and for all.

Last night, on the eve of a federal holiday, Altus Power -- the owner of the rooftop solar array whose equipment is suspected of starting the fire and who has publicly committed to making the Boyle Heights residents its "first concern" -- sent correspondence demanding that we stop demolition of the site. The work we planned does not affect the suspected area of origin or materials potentially relevant to evidence preservation or further investigation.

This is unacceptable. Public safety is our number one priority, and every hour of delay is an hour we can’t mitigate against active fire flare ups, remove debris, address the smell, or clean up the site for the people of Boyle Heights.

Unlike Altus and other involved parties, Lineage has been on the front lines since day one, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to execute a safe and swift remediation effort.

As noted in our July 2 progress report, we have containers staged, debris will be treated and pre-loaded on site and will be ready to move to landfills when they open Monday morning. We are committed to working through the holiday weekend to ensure not a single day is lost. Altus has offered no comparable plan and has not demonstrated any of the same sense of urgency.

On behalf of everyone in the impacted communities, we ask you to act immediately. Hold Altus and any other party seeking to delay cleanup and fire prevention at the site to the same standard of accountability you have applied to Lineage. Direct them to stand down and allow remediation to proceed.

The Boyle Heights community cannot afford to have its community held hostage by a party whose equipment is suspected of starting this fire.

Sincerely,
Greg Lehmkuhl
President and CEO
Lineage, Inc.

We want to provide you with a progress report on the 1400 Los Palos warehouse clean up.  Signal has completed its initial scope of work, including mobilizing resources to be on site right away and launching site safety and mitigation measures and exterior debris cleanup. As part of the planned project transition, Clean Harbors will now be leading demolition and food waste removal.

Cleanup activities will continue without interruption during this transition. As shared previously, Lineage is committed to the fastest cleanup possible without sacrificing health, safety and regulatory compliance.

Clean Harbors is the one of the largest waste management and environmental remediation contractors in North America. Clean Harbors brings the specialized resources, experience, and capabilities required to safely execute this next phase. Signal will continue to support the transition and provide any necessary coordination to ensure a seamless continuation of the project. We thank Signal for their tremendous efforts and collaboration during the early days of this recovery and cleanup process. 

Additionally, members of the Lineage team remain onsite to support both the cleanup operations and our community response efforts. Updates and more information are at onelineage.com/boyle-heights-fire-response 

Lineage is committed to the fastest cleanup that is possible without sacrificing health, safety, and regulatory compliance. We are ready to start the cleanup as soon as LAFD turns over the building to its owner and to us as its tenant operator. We have already hired Signal Restoration Services, an industry-leading cleanup firm, to lead our efforts, and we have already staged cleanup equipment onsite. To ensure we can move forward as fast as possible, we urge the various government agencies involved to quickly address any permitting or other approvals necessary to begin cleanup.

As cleanup efforts commence, we would like to affirm the following key facts:

• This site is used to store and distribute frozen food - not hazardous materials - and is part of a larger supply chain network that feeds millions in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond.
• Our team quickly removed ammonia from the facility, with no concentrations of ammonia being detected in the air at any time since the fire began.
• Firefighters will continue to be stationed on site to address any hotspots and support safety measures for cleanup crews.
• Robust plans for disinfection, odor control, and pest control will be implemented, and we are exploring multiple avenues to minimize disruption to the community including the use of water-tight trailers and containers to transport waste offsite.

Our cleanup continues our commitment to support the community:

• We have been deeply engaged with the LAFD, and our team identified and funded Chinook helicopters to make massive water drops and high-powered water cannons that made a huge difference in fighting this fire.
• We have delivered masks, air purifiers and food to the community, and contributed $2 million to the California Community Foundation that it is rapidly deploying as community needs emerge.

The knockdown of this fire is a testament to the bravery, expertise, and extraordinary efforts of the firefighters on scene. We are grateful for the swift and ongoing actions of the LAFD and surrounding agencies and continue to be grateful that there have been no injuries reported. 

Cold storage warehouses are essential infrastructure. They keep perishable food safe as it moves from farms and ports to grocery stores. This is not a new or experimental industry. Refrigerated warehousing has operated in Los Angeles for more than a century (with some century-old facilities still operating) and is clustered around the region’s goods-movement network, including the rail yards, freight corridors, and later the freeway system along the LA River and east of Downtown. The geography of this network dates back to the late 1800s.

We are grateful and encouraged by the news from the Los Angeles Fire Department that, while things can always change, they are looking to extinguish the fire in days and turn over the building to the owner and our company for clean up as early as Friday. The bravery and expertise we have seen from the firefighters of the LAFD is nothing less than extraordinary.

There’s no doubt this fire has had a huge impact on the local community, and we are committed to showing up in every way we can. From the beginning, we have been working closely with the fire department, resulting in our sourcing and funding high-powered water cannons from elsewhere in Southern California and from Texas, and funding Chinook helicopters that are capable of continuous massive water drops. 

Critically, our team quickly removed all ammonia from the site, with no concentrations of ammonia being detected in the air at any time since the fire began.

We want to be transparent with the community about what is stored in this building. This building is used to store food – meat, bread and other foods you would find at a grocery store – not hazardous materials.

Lineage is a cold storage company that has been an employer in the Boyle Heights community for years. This warehouse is part of a network that helps keep food moving safely through the global supply chain, storing and handling frozen food products that feed millions across the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond. 

As we remain committed to doing everything we can to help firefighters and the community, we want to be clear that this fire was not caused by our operations or our team. Lineage is the tenant-operator of the building, not the owner. We believe the fire started on the roof when the owner of the solar array, Altus Power, was doing tests. The solar array does not power the building directly but provides power into the city power grid. As we step up for the community, we are also urging Altus to join us getting the Boyle Heights community the support they desperately need.

We’re providing air purifiers and masks to the community, and we are going to keep that going as long as they are needed. We also brought in food trucks to provide almost 1,000 meals to residents of Boyle Heights and firefighters.

In addition, we have donated $2 million dollars to the California Community Impact Fund that is being used to deliver immediate support to Boyle Heights residents.

For more information, please visit: onelineage.com/boyle-heights-fire-response

Lineage's top priority is the health and safety of our team members, partners, and the communities in which we live and operate. We know many people living near our facility in Boyle Heights are deeply distraught about the fire that began on June 17, and rightfully so.

Working closely with local officials to identify the community's most pressing needs, Lineage has contributed $2 million to the California Community Foundation (CCF) that will be distributed to support community members who have been impacted by the fire. We are also continuing to work with local officials on providing air purifiers, food and other resources to the community. Our donation to CCF represents our desire to activate funding quickly and nimbly to the organizations making the greatest, most immediate impact on the ground.  

Since the fire began, we have been in regular, ongoing communication with Mayor Bass, Councilmember Jurado, Supervisor Solis and their teams about how we can best assist the community. We continue to be in frequent contact with their offices and remain grateful for their leadership and compassion for the people they serve.

We also continue to work closely with the Los Angeles Fire Department and other agencies to support their efforts to fight the fire and protect the community. To augment their brave and tireless efforts, we have leveraged our network to source high-powered water cannons from Texas, fund helicopters to continue water drops, and partnered with other industrial companies to secure additional equipment to speed up fire suppression efforts.

We also proactively took steps to pump out the ammonia and transport it offsite, removing the possibility of ammonia posing a risk to the community. We can confirm that no measurable ammonia concentrations have been recorded in the community since the fire began, and we continue to be grateful to Los Angeles' remarkable firefighters for their brave and tireless response.

We are also committed to sharing accurate information.

Lineage is a cold storage and logistics company that has been part of the Boyle Heights community for years. The warehouse at 1400 S. Los Palos Street is part of a network that helps keep food moving safely through the global supply chain, storing and handling frozen food products that feed millions across the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond.

We want our neighbors to know that Lineage does not own the building or its rooftop solar array. We are the tenant-operator of the warehouse building and lease the roof to a third-party solar company, which is responsible for operating and maintaining the array. We believe the fire originated on the roof on Wednesday while the company's subcontractors were servicing the solar array.

Our commitment to this community does not end here. We will continue to share relevant updates as they emerge, and we will continue to work with officials and stakeholders on the emergency response and the community response in any way we can.

For more information, please visit:
onelineage.com/boyle-heights-fire-response

Lineage’s top priority is the health and safety of the community, and we are continuing to work closely with the Los Angeles Fire Department and other agencies to provide any assistance we can. We are grateful to Los Angeles' remarkable firefighters for their ongoing and brave efforts. 

Lineage is the tenant-operator of this building. At this time, we believe the fire began while testing was being conducted by contractors of the third-party owner of the solar array located on the facility's roof. 

This facility is not used for the storage of hazardous materials. It primarily serves as a temperature-controlled storage facility for frozen food before it makes its way to Greater Los Angeles area communities and beyond. 

Our understanding from LAFD and AQMD is that there have been no measurable ammonia concentrations recorded in the community since the fire started. Additionally, Lineage has proactively taken additional steps to pump out the ammonia and transport it offsite, removing the possibility of ammonia posing a risk to the community. 

This facility and the supply chain it connects with employ hundreds of local jobs. We are grateful that no team members at the facility were harmed.

Lineage’s top priority is the health and safety of our employees, partners, and the communities in which we live and operate. We are deeply grateful to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) for their rapid response, professionalism, and continued support in protecting the community. LAFD hazmat specialists continue to monitor air quality in the structure and immediate area. Importantly, there are no indications an ammonia release occurred. We are also encouraged that our employees were safely evacuated and there are no reported injuries. We are working closely with local officials and first responder teams to assess the situation and provide support. This is an evolving matter, and we will provide updates as appropriate.

Lineage’s top priority is the health and safety of our employees, partners, and the communities in which we live and operate. We are aware of the incident and are working closely with local officials and first responder teams to assess the situation and provide support. This is an evolving matter, and we will provide updates as appropriate.