Friday, 3 July 2026, 10:19
A group of Boyle Heights residents and community organizers rallied Thursday to demand the permanent closure of the Lineage Logistics cold storage warehouse, which caught fire on June 17 and has since blanketed the neighborhood in smoke, a putrid odor, and an influx of rodents. The fire, which burned for eight days, left 85 million pounds of rotting food inside the 500,000-square-foot facility, creating a public health crisis that has drawn comparisons to environmental racism.
At a rally on the corner of La Puerta Street and Olympic Boulevard, about 50 residents and organizers chanted in Spanish, “Que se vayan!” (“They should go!”). Alma Lagunas, a resident and community organizer, told the Los Angeles Times, “It’s really hard for us to be living like this. Lineage needs to clean up and never [come] back.” Carlos Montes, another resident, labeled the situation “environmental racism,” stating, “This is not permitted in the rich white communities.”
Health data from the L.A. County Department of Public Health shows a dramatic spike in emergency room visits. From June 17 to June 25, ER visits from patients within 10 miles of the warehouse tripled, with complaints mentioning fire or smoke inhalation. On June 21, there was a one-day surge in throat pain complaints within five miles. Soledad Martinez, a 77-year-old resident of 45 years, told the LA Times the odor is so strong it’s like “sticking her head inside an old trash can.”
Lineage Logistics CEO Greg Lehmkuhl stated that the company has hired Signal Restoration Services and Clean Harbor to work 24/7, installing misting systems and conducting real-time air quality monitoring at eight neighborhood locations, especially near schools. The company is also working with Orkin to address pests. An estimated 5,000 truckloads of debris need to be removed, and a traffic management contractor has been hired to avoid residential streets.
Mayor Karen Bass signed executive orders mandating that Lineage complete the cleanup within 45 days. However, residents like Yesenia Adame expressed skepticism: “I don’t know if they’re being 100% truthful or realistic about the time frame. This is not our fault, but we’re living with the consequences of their negligence.”
In partnership with Fuente Learning Center, Breathe Southern California distributed free air purifiers to families. Jonathan Mercado of Breathe Southern California said, “We were able to procure 3,000 air purifiers that we’ve committed to the Boyle Heights community, and we’ve distributed in two days approximately almost 800 air purifiers.” Residents like Cecilia Cruz, who reported seeing rats in the streets, said the purifiers provide peace of mind: “They are really expensive. They're like $120, and we don't have $120 to spare with two little ones and my grandma too.”
Boyle Heights, a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles County, has long been home to industrial facilities near residential areas. Residents note that warehouse fires are a recurring issue. Andrew Contreras told ABC7, “We're used to it in Boyle Heights, because if you look down Olympic that way, there’s how many warehouses that have been burned down already that didn’t get the same coverage.” The Lineage facility had been operating for over 20 years, employing thousands, but the fire has reignited debates about environmental justice and the siting of hazardous facilities in low-income communities of color.
As cleanup continues, Boyle Heights residents remain vigilant, demanding accountability and a permanent end to the warehouse’s operations. Mayor Bass has pledged to hold those responsible accountable, and health clinics are offering services through Friday. The community’s resilience is evident, but the path to recovery—and justice—remains uncertain.
