A massive fire engulfed the roof of a 500,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood on Wednesday, prompting city officials to order nearby residents to shelter in place due to toxic smoke and ammonia.
Fire and Response
Approximately 110 firefighters responded to the blaze at the Lineage cold storage facility near downtown. Jennifer Middleton, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), confirmed that both city and county crews, including hazmat teams, were deployed. The fire's cause remains under investigation.
By the time firefighters arrived, the solar panels covering the roof had ignited. Mayor Karen Bass urged residents in the impacted area to get indoors, close windows and doors, turn off air conditioning, and avoid unnecessary travel.
Ammonia Hazard
Firefighters initially attempted to extinguish the fire using hand lines on the roof but were forced to retreat when an ammonia line burst. LAFD Chief Jaime Moore described the incident as a large, pressurized off-gassing of ammonia. Cold storage facilities commonly use ammonia as a refrigerant, but it is toxic and flammable. Moore advised residents with health conditions to stay indoors with windows closed and air conditioning off while air monitoring continued.
Aerial Assault
The fire grew so intense that responders resorted to helicopter water drops, a rare tactic. At least three helicopters delivered more than half a dozen water drops, according to Middleton. Moore noted that the fire's intensity overwhelmed ground-based water supplies, forcing firefighters to evacuate the roof temporarily.
Lineage did not respond to requests for comment.
Containment and Lithium-Ion Concerns
By evening, the roof fire was largely contained, but the roof showed signs of sagging. The presence of solar panels raised concerns about lithium-ion batteries used to store solar energy. Moore described lithium-ion batteries as one of the newest challenges in fire service, capable of thermal runaway that makes fires extremely difficult to extinguish. Middleton warned that such fires produce extremely hazardous smoke and are dangerous to approach.
