Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 2:57
Three weeks after the massive Lineage warehouse fire blanketed Boyle Heights and East LA in smoke, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says she still cannot say whether the cold-storage facility will be allowed to rebuild. In an exclusive interview with Boyle Heights Beat, Bass stressed that the community must have a say in the company’s future on the site, which sits next to homes and an elementary school.
When asked directly if she would support Lineage rebuilding, Bass replied, “Will I support them in rebuilding? I don’t know. To me, the community has to weigh into that.” The mayor emphasized that the city is still in the cleanup phase, with Lineage held to a 45-day schedule to remove millions of pounds of rotting food. She also noted that the fire has exposed a broader problem: many industrial facilities in residential neighborhoods operate without signage, leaving residents unaware of potential hazards. “The biggest lesson is preparing to prevent [the next environmental disaster],” Bass said. Bass urged residents to hold her accountable as she oversees cleanup efforts — she said she’ll hold Lineage to a 45-day schedule — and look for ways the city can provide economic relief, such as reimbursements for high utility bills for residents who ran air purifiers for days on end. “[Residents] have to hold me accountable,” Bass said. “I’ve been out there, I plan to go out there regularly over these 45 days, and after, to make sure that the community is getting better, is getting what they need.”
Bass confirmed that she has spoken with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power about reimbursing residents for higher utility bills caused by running air purifiers. “The bottom line is, they’re going to be reimbursed,” she said, advising residents to save their bills from before and after the fire to show the increase. Additionally, Bass said the Department of Transportation is waiving parking enforcement fees near the fire site and has already returned towed vehicles without charges. In addition to utility bills, fire-affected business owners told Bass at a meeting on July 2 that they’ve struggled with low foot traffic and a lack of parking in the neighborhood has made it worse. Bass said she would look into stopping parking enforcement near the fire site. Bass said the Department of Transportation has begun looking into that request and has already followed through on waiving fees and returning vehicles that were towed near the warehouse. “As soon as I found out that was happening, I had them waive the fees,” Bass said.
Air quality remains a top concern for residents who breathed smoke for days. Some have not yet returned home. Bass said the city is commissioning independent air quality testing with outside companies and local universities, beyond what Lineage is doing. “To me, this is an environmental justice issue,” she stated. “It’s not just about Lineage, it’s about lower-income communities of color and their environmental hazards.” Residents have expressed worry over the long-term health impacts of the air they breathed while smoke blanketed their neighborhoods for days. Some still haven’t returned to their homes. Local leaders and community organizations have called on Lineage to conduct consistent air quality monitoring and a comprehensive study. Bass said the city is also looking into commissioning its own independent testing with outside companies and local universities. “I’m committed to the neighborhood. Period,” Bass said. “To me, this is an environmental justice issue, and I said that from day one. It’s not just about Lineage, it’s not just about those 333 homes [that surround the warehouse], it’s about lower-income communities of color and their environmental hazards.”
The fire occurred in Boyle Heights, a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles County. The warehouse is surrounded by about 333 homes and an elementary school, highlighting the conflict between industrial zoning and residential areas in urban California. Bass, along with Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and County Supervisor Hilda Solis, have been coordinating a joint response, though jurisdictional differences between city and county governments have complicated recovery efforts. In the days directly after the fire, some residents in Boyle Heights, East LA and surrounding communities struggled to navigate resources and were turned away at air purifier distributions based on where they lived — then the messaging shifted. Bass, LA City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis began appearing side by side at press conferences and stressed that government agencies were working together to get residents the resources they needed. “When you’re in an emergency like this, [the response] has to evolve. You can’t possibly get it right on day one,” Bass told the Beat. City and county departments have been in close coordination with each other, but there is still work to be done, Bass said. “We all have different rules. …Am I totally confident we can resolve the jurisdictional thing? I’m not sure, because the two governments function very differently,” she said.
The Lineage cold-storage facility caught fire on June 17, when one of the many solar panels on the roof of the 500,000-square-foot warehouse caught fire and rapidly spread. It burned for more than a week before the Los Angeles Fire Department declared a knockdown. The warehouse held more than 85 million pounds of once-frozen food, including meat, which rotted and created additional odors and infestations as crews worked to clear the site. The incident has sparked broader calls for reviewing land-use policies and increasing transparency about industrial operations near homes and schools.
Mayor Bass penned a scathing letter to Lineage's chief executives, also signed by Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, Supervisor Hilda Solis, and Emergency Management General Manager Carol Parks. The letter stated that residents' quality of life remains significantly diminished and concerns persist about health, water quality, air quality, odor, and infestations. Bass demanded comprehensive plans for material removal, odor and vector control, fire water runoff management, air quality monitoring, removal of hazardous materials, certified waste haulers, biohazard disposal contractors, and designated operating hours for truck hauling. She also demanded that Lineage provide temporary and long-term housing for impacted residents, create a smoke and toxin remediation program, fund community health centers and organizations, establish a community notification schedule, set up a multilingual hotline and claims center, and commit to engaging in community meetings. “We will not stand by while families in the City of Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County are forced to endure the serious impacts of an ongoing industrial disaster in their own backyard,” the letter said.
In a follow-up letter sent Saturday, Bass and other city and county leaders again urged Lineage to commit to helping affected residents, noting that millions of pounds of rotting food remain inside the warehouse and that the resulting odor has made conditions in the surrounding area “unbearable.” The letter calls on the company to help fund temporary housing for impacted residents and provide support for health centers and community organizations serving the area. City and county leaders also requested a concrete timeline for the removal of the rotting food from the destroyed facility.
Meanwhile, a dispute has emerged over the cleanup process. Lineage says the group that owns the solar panels on the roof, Altus Power, demanded they stop demolition of the site. However, the city says it is not asking Lineage to demolish any portion of the building related to the fire investigation, and instead asks that the food waste be removed as quickly as possible. The president and CEO of Lineage, Greg Lehmkuhl, sent a letter to Bass and County Supervisor Hilda Solis, raising concerns about the stoppage and asking local officials to intervene and allow demolition to proceed. Lehmkuhl wrote, “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.” He also stated, “The Boyle Heights community cannot afford to have its community held hostage by a party whose equipment is suspected of starting this fire.” Lineage believes the fire started while Altus Power contractors were conducting testing on a rooftop solar array. Altus Power previously disputed that conclusion. The mayor's office responded, noting that the city has not asked the company to demolish any portion of the building that could be relevant to the fire investigation, and is instead asking Lineage to take measures to eliminate fire flare-ups and remove food waste as quickly as possible. “No court order is preventing you from doing this, and it is critical that you stay laser focused on clearing out your warehouse of your stored food waste and debris since it is that food decomposition that is causing the greatest ongoing harm to our adjacent communities,” Bass's office wrote in its response. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado issued a statement: “I am calling on Lineage, Altus, the property owner, and every involved party to cooperate immediately with the City, County, LAFD, Public Health, and regulatory agencies. If there are legitimate evidence-preservation concerns, they must be addressed through a clear, written protocol that allows investigators to do their work without delaying urgent remediation.”
In a letter published on July 5, Lineage again accused Altus Power of creating a “serious obstacle” to cleanup, stating that Altus demanded a stop to demolition. Lineage called on Bass and Solis to “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.” Bass responded by focusing on Lineage’s responsibilities, saying the company had “not committed to the most basic steps of sharing comprehensive, real-time data about the volume of rotting food and debris being removed from the site.” She also reiterated demands for temporary housing and smoke remediation.
Tensions in Boyle Heights reached a fever pitch Thursday evening as residents — fed up with exposure to toxic smoke, the smell of rotting food, and a lack of answers after the Lineage warehouse fire — made their frustrations known at a feisty town hall meeting. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass struggled to open the meeting over the loud boos and yelling of community members, actions that were repeated as other elected officials took the microphone. The crowd grew even louder when Lineage Chief Operating Officer Jeff Rivera took to the stage and was met with a chorus of “Liar!” Scores of protesters marched a mile from the site of the hazardous blaze to the meeting, held at Stevenson Middle School, chanting as they walked that the warehouse had poisoned their community and they wanted it removed permanently. More than 200 people were turned away at the door as the venue reached capacity, with several dozen protesters briefly pushing past security and forcing entry into the room. They exited as the meeting started and rejoined the crowd outside, rallying with drums, whistles and signs that read “Lineage out” and “We can see your greedy side.”
“We are one community and city and are making sure we get the solutions needed,” said protest leader Jazmine Garcia. “This is about quality of life. This is about not being ignored anymore.”
Firefighters for several days struggled to knock down a stubborn blaze that started on the roof of the Lineage cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights on June 17. Air quality has been a constant concern for the community since the incident began. Beyond the health hazards of breathing in smoke from a building fire, there was a brief, temporary scare when an ammonia line that helped keep the building refrigerated was compromised, though Lineage has said the chemical was not detected in the air. Additionally, 85 million pounds of food thawed, burned and spoiled inside, creating a terrible smell that emanated from the property.
“I know the last few weeks have been extremely difficult,” Rivera said at the meeting. “I understand the uncertainty, the frustration, and the disruption that it’s caused, and I am sorry.”
As part of a pair of executive directives signed by Bass last week, city officials are requiring Lineage and the owner of the building, Chill Build, to submit a comprehensive cleanup plan to the city. The directives also require the companies to remove, within 45 days, the millions of pounds of rotting food inside the warehouse. Rivera said that cleanup began Monday and that the company is moving as quickly as possible with a goal of beating the city’s 45-day timeframe to complete the process.
Thus far, 1.4 million pounds of solid waste have been cleared, and 3.2 million more pounds are set for removal in the coming days, said Brian Martin, a representative for Clean Harbors, a company helping carry out the cleanup. Structural removal commenced Tuesday and is now 6.5% complete. About 200 people are working on-site around the clock, and around 150 trucks are being used to ferry away debris, Martin said. Lineage has wrapped portions of the building with a temporary material meant to contain debris, reduce odors and dampen noise during the remediation process. Misting systems also are being used on the exterior to reduce smells from the rotting food, while air quality monitoring is continuing in eight locations. Rivera told residents that air quality monitoring results showed that the air was currently safe in the community. He also outlined resources Lineage would provide to residents living closest to the site during that cleanup. Those include grocery vouchers, housing vouchers for those who elect to relocate during cleanup, air purifiers, cash assistance and support for utility bills.
Ultimately, the reassurances about community resources and air quality failed to quell the fury inside the room as residents took the microphone during the Q&A section and repeatedly expressed feelings of betrayal and mistrust.
“I am very disgusted with how this response has played out in real time,” said one Boyle Heights resident, who didn’t share a name. “I feel that leadership in all levels — from Lineage, to city, to state, even federal — has failed us.”
Elected leaders attempted to take accountability for the lack of clarity residents experienced around public health dangers and evacuation orders during the incident. “Let me straight up apologize for any confusion, miscommunication and information that was put out, especially at the beginning when the fires were still going on, especially anything that I have said [about] whether or not the smoke was harmful,” said Bass. “I am very clear that all smoke, under all circumstances, is harmful.”
Bass said that the Lineage crisis is an environmental justice issue.
Just hours before the meeting, Lineage announced a new round of assistance for residents, including hotel and rental vouchers for families who want to move out during the cleanup, cash on prepaid cards, grocery vouchers and offers to pay electric bills. The company says the aid comes on top of the $2.5 million it has already committed.
Still, many residents left saying the meeting wasn't productive and that their questions went unanswered by their leaders. Bass defended the event afterward to FOX 11. "It was important for the community to have an opportunity to speak. I appreciate that they did, I understand their anger, and we are going to address their concerns," she said. Asked whether she plans to hold another town hall, Bass said, "We don't know, we'll see." Asked whether she believed the meeting was productive at all, she said, "Yes, I do."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis pushed back on the notion that officials have been absent. "I mean, we have been dealing with this. We've been on the ground since it started. I think we gave you a breakdown of when we did start," Solis said. Asked about the booing directed at officials throughout the night, Solis said, "I think a lot of it is spread against everyone."
At the July 9 meeting, more than 450 people gathered at Stevenson Middle School. Loud interruptions from several audience members prevented much dialogue, with chants of “Lineage Out!” and “Shut it down!” drowning out reports from the South Coast Air Quality Management District as well as Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Mary Lou Hernandez, 64, asked the crowd to work with community leaders and agencies. “All the shouting and screaming is not going to solve anything,” she said, criticizing vociferous voices as people who “didn’t come here for answers.”
Lineage Logistics has resumed demolition and debris removal at the site, according to city officials. Crews are working simultaneously to mitigate severe odors and clear 85 million pounds of spoiled food waste, while the investigation into the cause of the blaze focuses on rooftop solar panel testing. Lineage is currently using deodorizer applications, interior and exterior misters, and additional plastic sheeting over exposed sections of the structure to suppress the resulting odors. A Wednesday statement from Mayor Karen Bass' office confirmed that Lineage "is engaged in demolition of the warehouse and debris removal along Indiana Street."
Neighbors impacted by the lingering smoke, fumes, or odors can access medical resources nearby. A dedicated community health clinic is opening at the Lou Costello Recreation Center (3141 E. Olympic Blvd.) during the following hours: Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Amid the ongoing crisis, a potential conflict of interest has emerged. Yusef Robb, a top informal advisor to Mayor Bass, is working as a crisis communications consultant for Lineage Logistics. Robb, who runs the firm tk/Communications, was a familiar presence at City Hall for the first half of the year, accompanying Bass at news conferences and delivering comments on her behalf on issues such as the city’s response to the Palisades fire. Two days after the Lineage fire ignited on June 17, Robb began working for the company, aiding with communications consulting, he confirmed to the Los Angeles Times. Robb said he served as an unpaid advisor and spokesperson for Bass through the June 2 mayoral primary. Bass spokesman Kolby Lee said that Robb provided “extra help” to the administration during the first half of the year, but “has never been a city employee for the Bass administration.” Lee said that Robb continued to advise Bass on an informal basis, but that he hadn’t communicated with Bass or her office “on behalf of Lineage.” After the story was published, Robb said he would no longer serve as an unpaid advisor to Bass. “I’m not going to let unnecessary distractions get in the way of the important things that need to be done, so I’m not extending my volunteer advisory work for the Mayor,” Robb said in a text message. The revelation has raised questions about the mayor’s ability to hold Lineage accountable. “The public is demanding accountability, but to what extent can the mayor hold this company accountable when it’s being represented by her advisor and friend?” asked Sara Sadhwani, a politics professor at Pomona College. Robb is a longtime fixture at City Hall, having worked for former mayors Jim Hahn and Eric Garcetti, and also worked on Bass’ 2022 mayoral campaign. The city paid $75,000 total in 2022 and 2023 to Robb’s firm for communications services related to the start-up of the administration, according to a city contract.
Mayor Bass has pledged to hold Lineage accountable and to keep the community informed during the 45-day cleanup. She urged residents to hold her accountable and to save their DWP bills for potential reimbursement. The decision on rebuilding will ultimately depend on community input, with Bass promising to continue visiting the area regularly.
