Boyle Heights Response & Recovery
Updated July 9, 2026
Response & Recovery Overview
Since a fire broke out on the roof of our Los Palos Street facility on June 17, our team has been focused on doing everything we can to contain the fire, support the community and help with cleanup and recovery efforts. This page provides updates on Lineage’s response, cleanup progress, air monitoring information, community resources, FAQs, and latest updates.
For Council District 14 residents, air purifiers and masks will continue to be available at the Community Resource Center, located at 3141 E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90023. City of Los Angeles residents can contact 311 for assistance or visit the city’s emergency information page.
To contact Lineage directly, please email boyleheights@onelineage.com or use our community contact form.
Top Questions
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Yes. Independent monitoring from Onterris as well as the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is running around the clock at multiple locations in and around Boyle Heights. Readings have consistently shown results within normal levels for the neighborhood and no harmful health impacts. Further, although there may be unpleasant and annoying odors associated with the decaying food products, the bad smell is not associated with any health risk. Air monitoring data is accessible on this page and on aqmd.gov. We want you to have the facts, not just our word.
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Soon after the fire started, we pumped all the ammonia from our cooling systems and safely transported it off-site. No measurable ammonia has been detected in the community at any time since the fire started. We know some neighbors have also asked about methane and hydrogen sulfide — these chemicals are included in our air monitoring. To date, monitoring has not detected levels of these chemicals or particles that pose a health risk. Lastly, while odors that come from decomposing food are unpleasant, we want to confirm that allergens associated with any of these foods are not airborne or distributed as a result of organic decomposition — meaning those with allergies to certain foods are not at greater risk during this period.
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The masks being distributed are N95 respirators, which are effective in filtering out the types of particles that can be found in the air after fires. The air purifiers are HEPA-rated units designed for home use. Both are available at no cost to Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles residents.
How to get them: Fill out this form with your name and information and we will happily deliver masks and purifiers to neighborhood residents. -
We expect the food removal process to take approximately 45 days. Our cleanup crews are working 24/7 to address the food debris. We are using a variety of approaches to minimize the effects, including: physical barriers (StormWrapper), applying a bleach solution in and around the building, running mist deodorizing systems around the site, and applying deodorizers directly to the debris to reduce odors as much as possible during that period. It will get better as the cleanup progresses. We are working as fast as we safely can.
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We have not seen any flareups within the debris since Saturday, July 4. That said, fire crews remain on site. We will provide updates on this page if the situation changes and on Instagram at @lineagelospalos.
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We want to be clear that we do not believe this fire was caused by our operations or our team. We believe the fire started on the roof when a contractor of the owner of the solar array, Altus Power, was testing the array. Regardless of how the fire started, 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.
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We understand the frustration. The warehouse held approximately 88 million pounds of food -- enough to provide every resident of Los Angeles County with about seven meals. Removing it safely takes time and requires specialized contractors. We are required to follow strict environmental and safety protocols set by the City of Los Angeles and SCAQMD. We have cleanup crews working around the clock, and we are pushing to move faster wherever we safely can
Cleanup Progress
Latest Updates from Lineage
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Lineage Commits Direct Relief to Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles Residents as Cleanup Accelerates
More than $2.5 million already deployed, Lineage expands support to reach impacted residents living closest to the warehouse site
Los Angeles, Calif., July 9, 2026 — 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.
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:
- Housing Vouchers: 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.
- Air Purifiers, Air Conditioners and Masks: We will deliver air purifiers, air conditioners and masks directly to the residents who need and want them.
- Grocery Vouchers: Lineage will share these to be redeemable at Food4Less on Olympic Boulevard.
- Cash Assistance: Residents can receive direct assistance through pre-paid cards.
- Utility Support: Supporting residents’ utility bills through LADWP.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
Information will be shared with residents of the neighborhood on how to access resources from Lineage.
Debris removal officially commenced on July 6, and meaningful progress is underway across the site.
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.
A formal phased removal schedule — targeting completion within 45 days — is being finalized for submission to the City.
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: onelineage.com/lospalos.
Media Contact
Megan Hendricksen
VP, Global Marketing & Communications
pr@onelineage.com - 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.
Air Monitoring Update
Lineage is sharing preliminary air monitoring data in connection with the Boyle Heights warehouse fire response. The full air monitoring page includes the latest update, detailed data table, and location-based monitoring maps.
View Air Monitoring Information
Further Questions & Answers
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The cause of the fire has not been determined. 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. We are working closely with local officials to assist in all investigations and remediations of the fire and will continue to do so as we cleanup once the site is safe for entry.
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We can confirm that no measurable ammonia concentrations have been recorded in the community since the fire began. 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.
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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. If you’re a resident in need of masks, air purifiers, or information about shelter/smoke relief locations, please see this page.
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We 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 remain committed to supporting response and assessment efforts and following the guidance of public safety officials. We are also engaged with local officials like Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, Supervisor Hilda Solis, and Mayor Karen Bass to offer help in providing resources to affected community members.
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Lineage provides temperature-controlled warehousing and supply chain solutions for the storage, handling, and movement of food and other temperature-sensitive products. We serve thousands of customers including some of the world’s largest food and beverage producers, retailers, and distributors to help feed the world.
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Lineage operates temperature-controlled warehouses that primarily store food. Ammonia is used in some of our refrigeration systems that keep the buildings cold. Compared to synthetic refrigerants, which generate potent greenhouse gases, ammonia has a low global warming potential (GWP) and is considered a more sustainable option.
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Cold storage is a critical part of the global food supply chain. Maintaining the proper temperature helps protect food quality and safety, reduce waste, and enables products to move efficiently from producers and importers to the communities they feed. Although they operate behind the scenes, cold storage facilities play an important role in helping keep food moving safely from where it’s grown or produced to grocery stores, restaurants, and communities.
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Blast freezing is the process of quickly freezing food products to maintain their color, texture, and flavor. Instead of allowing a product to gradually freeze in storage, like you might do at home with leftovers placed in your freezer, blast freezing uses very cold air which is circulated to rapidly remove heat from the product, so it freezes quickly and evenly. Many products undergo blast freezing before they enter frozen storage or are transported to their next destination in the cold chain.
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We are grateful to report that all employees were safely evacuated and no injuries have been reported. The safety of our employees, partners and surrounding community remains our highest priority.
We are supporting team members impacted by providing resources through our Employee Assistance Program and having them report to other buildings in our network where possible.
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The Big Bear facility located in Boyle Heights is part of Lineage's Southern California network, which helps support the movement of temperature-controlled products through one of the nation's most important trade gateways. Located near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the facility is part of a network that helps connect food products to 10M people in communities throughout Southern California and beyond.
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Southern California is home to the largest import hub in the U.S. Products like seafood, pork, beef, and poultry from major markets around the globe travel through here for regional distribution for West Coast grocery stores, restaurants, and more. Facilities like Big Bear help maintain the cold chain by keeping temperature-sensitive products at the proper temperature as they move through the food supply chain. From arrival at port to their next destination, these facilities help ensure products are handled safely and efficiently while preserving quality and freshness.
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The facility supports a variety of roles that help keep food moving on its journey to your table, including warehouse operations, logistics and transportation coordination, maintenance, customer support, and administrative functions. These team members help products move safely and efficiently through the food supply chain.
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We have deployed senior operations, sales, engineering, safety, and customer service teams across our network to support the response. We are actively securing alternative warehouse capacity throughout the Greater Los Angeles market and our broader network to meet customers’ warehousing needs. We have also mobilized our transportation services team who are prepared to help reposition product as necessary.
Our Commitment
We will continue to communicate openly, share facts as they are confirmed, and provide regular updates as the situation evolves. Our commitment to this community does not end here, and we will continue to work with officials to support the cleanup in any way we can.
Residents are encouraged to continue monitoring official local channels including LAFD Alerts and South Coast Air Quality Management District to stay aware.
