A fire at a large frozen-food storage facility in Los Angeles has been burning for six days, presenting significant challenges for firefighters who have yet to enter the structure. The blaze, which started Wednesday, is contained within a roughly 500,000-square-foot facility insulated like a freezer and covered in solar panels.

Firefighting Challenges

Firefighting efforts are complicated by the building's construction, which includes heavily insulated ceilings, roofs, and walls that make extinguishing a fire difficult. Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) spokesperson Jamie Stewart stated that fires in such facilities can last for weeks. Firefighters have been unable to enter the building due to the danger posed by 65-foot-tall, floor-to-ceiling steel rack shelving packed with approximately 85 million pounds of frozen food. LAFD Chief Jaime Moore indicated it is unlikely firefighters will ever enter the compromised structure due to extreme danger.

Instead of entering, firefighters are working to gain access by removing parts of the exterior walls and applying water. They have also been unable to quickly ventilate the roof, a standard procedure for releasing gas and smoke, due to the insulation.

Potential Cause and Contents

The facility, known as Big Bear and operated by Michigan-based company Lineage, stores products like seafood, pork, beef, and poultry destined for West Coast grocery stores and restaurants. Lineage believes the fire may have started when subcontractors were working on the roof's solar panels, although the official cause has not been determined. The company is cooperating with fire officials in their investigation.

Air Quality Concerns

The smoke billowing from the warehouse has raised air quality concerns for the surrounding Boyle Heights neighborhood and areas to the north and east. The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a warning for poor air quality, citing the presence of microscopic particles known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs. Residents in the most affected areas have been advised to stay indoors, close windows and doors, turn off air conditioning, and wear N95 or P100 masks if they must go outside.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, representing Boyle Heights, has called for clearer information regarding the materials and chemicals present in the warehouse and assurances that air quality reports will be released in accessible formats and languages, noting that residents are finding ash and debris near their homes.