A fire that raged for eight days at a Boyle Heights cold storage warehouse has been extinguished, but the aftermath has created a significant public health concern due to an estimated 85 million pounds of rotting food inside the facility.
Video footage circulating online shows rats moving through streets near the Lineage Logistics cold storage site, prompting alarm among residents who fear the area is becoming overrun with pests. Officials warn that the decaying food could trigger a surge in rats and flies if not removed promptly, potentially leading to a wider sanitation emergency. Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment is collaborating with fire officials to devise a cleanup plan.
The fire, located at 1400 S Palos St., was declared under control on June 25, 2026, at 5:58 p.m. While there are no active flames and no immediate risk of the fire spreading, deep-seated hot spots continue to smolder within the structure. Fire crews remain on scene, using infrared cameras to monitor lingering heat pockets. Intermittent smoke plumes are still expected as the overhaul process continues.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. However, the primary concern has shifted to the vast quantity of spoiled food trapped within the compromised warehouse. Residents have reported smelling the odor of the decaying food spreading through surrounding blocks. The potential health risks associated with rodent infestations include the spread of diseases such as leptospirosis, salmonella, rat-bite fever, and hantavirus through contaminated surfaces, droppings, bites, and airborne particles.
Lineage Inc., the owner of the warehouse, has reportedly donated $2 million to the California Community Foundation to aid residents affected by the fire and its consequences. Reports and social media posts highlighting rats near the fire zone have amplified public concern, with some commenters expressing worries about rapid wild rat breeding due to the abundant food source and worsening conditions.