A fire that broke out at a cold storage facility in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles and has been burning for days has created a thick layer of smoke over the city. The fire has caused a significant drop in air quality.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency for the city on June 20. The fire has affected a warehouse area of approximately 45,600 square meters.
Authorities listed factors complicating the firefight, including the risk of ammonia leaks, explosive equipment, and 38,500 tons of rotting food products.
The warehouse is operated by Lineage, one of the world's leading cold storage and food logistics companies. The facility's main operations focus on the import and export of meat, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy products.
The massive gray smoke plume rising from the fire is clearly visible from the air, blanketing Boyle Heights and surrounding neighborhoods.