A fire at a cold-storage warehouse in Los Angeles has been burning for days. Here’s what we know

Key Points:

• A massive fire has been burning since June 17 at a Lineage cold-storage warehouse in Los Angeles containing 85 million pounds of frozen food, producing thick smoke and prompting shelter-in-place orders due to hazardous air quality.
• The fire likely started on the roof during solar array maintenance by a third-party company, with firefighters facing challenges such as ammonia leaks, unstable structural conditions, and limited access inside the large facility.
• Despite partial containment, flare-ups continue, and smoke conditions fluctuate as crews work cautiously to extinguish hidden fires, with no clear timeline for when the smoke will fully dissipate.
• Lineage has pledged $2 million to support affected community members and is coordinating relief efforts, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared an emergency to mobilize additional resources.
• Air quality in surrounding areas remains unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups, with health officials warning of potential respiratory irritation and advising those with severe symptoms to seek medical care immediately.