Boyle Heights fire burns on; officials warn Tuesday

Now in its sixth straight day, the Boyle Heights fire remains active inside a cold storage facility as officials say smoke has eased in some areas but air quality risks are still shifting—prompting fresh public health guidance and an extended particle pollutio

For the sixth straight day, the Boyle Heights fire hasn’t let up. It’s still burning inside a cold storage facility, and officials say the fight is continuing even as smoke patterns improve in parts of the region—an uneven reality that has left residents bracing for what comes next.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore said he is hopeful crews can extinguish the stubborn blaze burning inside the facility by the middle of the week and return the building to its operator, Lineage Logistics, on Friday.

Firefighting efforts on Monday focused on getting at flames hidden inside. Moore said additional crews arrived from across the region and firefighters continued a campaign to pull apart the structure to reach the fire trapped within. “Heavy equipment operators are systematically removing sections of the exterior walls. which is allowing our firefighters to direct water streams into previously inaccessible areas of the building and extinguish the remaining spots of fire. ” Moore said.

The operation relies on large-scale water application inside the storage facility. Crews are using water cannons to blast about 12,000 gallons of water per minute at pallets of products burning on 65-foot-tall, 600-foot-long metal racks inside the facility, Moore said.

Air quality has been a central concern, and officials say the situation is changing moment by moment. Moore said fire activity continued to decrease throughout Monday and that smoke conditions in surrounding areas had “improved significantly.” Still. he said the fire zone remains a source of bad air.

L.A. County Health Officer Muntu Davis said air quality varied over the course of the incident. “Right now in some areas that were unhealthy yesterday. they’re good. or they’re moderate. and in other areas they’re still very unhealthy. ” he said Monday afternoon. Davis recommended residents use the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s online map for the most up-to-date information on air quality in their area.

The South Coast AQMD extended a particle pollution advisory until 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The advisory covers a large swath of central Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.

For residents who have been living with smoke. odor and ash. the improving parts don’t erase the fatigue and fear that linger. City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, told residents Monday that the worst may not be behind them. “I want to be very clear that this crisis is not over,” she said. “Families are still dealing with the smoke. odor. ash. closed parks and community spaces. disrupted routines and serious concerns about what they are breathing. And people are tired, they are anxious, and they deserve answers.”.

Officials have said the main public health concern for those being affected by smoke is fine particles. These can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and can worsen heart and lung conditions. Davis said children. elderly people. pregnant people. and people with preexisting heart and lung conditions are likely to be most sensitive to particle pollution.

Jurado also pointed residents to help available through her office, saying people can contact her office at (323) 526-9332 or fill out an online form to request an air purifier.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health issued specific guidance for people dealing with smoke from the fire. If residents smell smoke or see smoke or ash at ground level. they should avoid vigorous physical activity and remain indoors with doors and windows closed. They are also advised to run an air purifier if available and to avoid using a whole-house fan or swamp cooler. which can bring polluted air indoors.

County officials said if residents see or smell smoke. or notice particles and ash in the air. they should stay indoors to limit exposure—especially if they have heart or lung conditions. are elderly. or have children. They recommended wearing an N95 or P100 mask if someone must go outside in smoky conditions for long periods in areas with heavy smoke or where ash is present.

If it becomes too hot to keep windows and doors closed. officials urged residents to go to a public place such as a library or shopping center to stay cool and protect themselves from harmful air. People should also avoid using fireplaces. candles or vacuums. and when cleaning dusty surfaces. they should use a damp cloth rather than stirring dust through sweeping or dry wiping. Officials added: don’t smoke.

Medical steps were included in the county’s guidance as well. Residents experiencing symptoms such as severe coughing. shortness of breath. wheezing. chest pain. palpitations. nausea or unusual fatigue should contact their doctor or go to urgent care. For life-threatening symptoms, officials said to call 911.

As the air advisories remain in effect, the city opened a smoke respite shelter at Pecan Recreation Center at 145 S. Pecan St., and the county opened one in City Terrace Park at 1126 N. Hazard Ave.

The firefighting timeline and the air quality warnings are both shaped by what officials describe as a continuing, changing risk—one that has kept families on edge even as Monday brought some improvement in smoke outside the immediate fire zone.

Boyle Heights fire Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore Lineage Logistics air quality advisory South Coast AQMD particle pollution advisory Muntu Davis smoke respite shelter Pecan Recreation Center City Terrace Park