Rotting meat, foul smell at site of Boyle Heights warehouse fire

Key Points:

• A weeklong fire at a massive cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights has ended, but the area now faces a severe odor problem due to rotting meat and spoiled food leaking from the damaged building.
• Firefighters continue to douse the warehouse to control smoldering, but full access to the interior for cleanup will take several days; the building's owner and tenant are responsible for debris removal and mitigating environmental impacts.
• Residents, many of whom are low-income Latino workers with limited resources, have been affected by the smoke and foul smells, raising concerns about health risks, vermin attraction, and long-term respiratory issues.
• Community advocates highlight Boyle Heights' history of environmental racism and warn that the true health consequences from smoke exposure may emerge over years, despite current air quality monitors showing no elevated particulate levels.
• Public health officials are involved in overseeing the cleanup, addressing community health concerns, and ensuring proper disposal of spoiled food to prevent further hazards.