On June 22, 2026, Los Angeles experienced smoke for a sixth day due to a fire in Boyle Heights. The blaze started Wednesday at a 500,000-square-foot cold-food storage facility on South Los Palos Street.
The fire triggered shelter-in-place orders and led to a state of emergency declaration. Smoke continues to affect air quality, as stated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Their particle pollution advisory was extended into Monday morning.
Air particulates reached unhealthy levels in central Los Angeles County and surrounding areas over the weekend. These conditions were expected to persist north and east of the fire until Monday morning. Residents were advised to limit outdoor exposure and use air conditioning or purifiers.
Ysabel Jurado, representing Boyle Heights, emphasized the need for urgent emergency response measures to address air monitoring, debris removal, and public health protection.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday for Los Angeles County in response to the fire.
California is mobilizing to support Los Angeles as firefighters and emergency personnel work to contain this fire and protect surrounding communities.
Mayor Karen Bass issued a Declaration of Local Emergency to ensure adequate resources are available for the ongoing operations and community safety.
The affected site belonged to Lineage, a cold storage and logistics company, which committed $2 million to aid affected residents. Lineage noted that they lease the roof to a third-party solar company, believed to be the origin of the fire.
Los Angeles Fire Department has made significant progress by removing parts of the exterior wall for better fire fighting access. Smoke conditions are expected to improve with ongoing firefighting efforts.
Social media posts showed smoke shrouding Dodger Stadium, creating a haze. The situation improved enough for a scheduled game to proceed.
Adela Suliman, from NBC News London, reports on breaking news and previously worked with notable news organizations. A law graduate of SOAS and Columbia’s Journalism School, she transitioned from corporate litigation to journalism.