▲ Fire in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles
A fire that broke out at an industrial facility in Los Angeles, California, has been burning for a week.
According to reports from the LA Times and CNN on June 23 (local time), fire authorities have been struggling to extinguish the blaze at a cold storage warehouse in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, which began on June 17.
The fire reportedly started during maintenance work on solar panels located on the roof of the warehouse.
The flames spread to the Lineage Logistics cold storage facility directly below, which spans 491,000 square feet (approximately 46,000 square meters).
Although the fire appeared to be under control six hours after firefighting efforts began, it reignited inside the warehouse on June 19 due to strong winds.
The structure of the warehouse is cited as the biggest obstacle.
The LA Times explained that the cold storage facility is essentially a massive icebox or refrigerator, making it difficult to dismantle due to its metal walls and thick insulation.
To fully extinguish the fire, crews must locate hidden embers, but entry is difficult because the warehouse is packed with 85 million pounds (approximately 39 million kilograms) of frozen food.
"We have 85 million pounds of frozen food in there, and because of the building's structure, we have zero visibility, making it difficult to enter," said Jamie Moore, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
The fire department is continuing its efforts by tearing down two-story walls and spraying water into the building.
Concerns over air pollution have also grown as the fire enters its seventh day.
Although residents have been exposed to smoke for days, fire authorities have not ordered a large-scale mandatory evacuation of the surrounding area, stating that there are no toxic substances present that would necessitate such action.
Jill Johnston, an associate professor of environmental health at UC Irvine, warned, "The longer the exposure, the more you inhale, and the potential risk increases. Exposure to wildfire smoke has been shown to increase the risk of preterm birth, and urban fires could pose similar risks."
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles city government and the California state government declared a joint state of emergency on June 20 to support affected residents.
Governor Gavin Newsom stated, "As the city responds, the state is ready to support emergency operations and help affected residents," and announced plans to distribute 5.5 million N95 masks.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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