A massive warehouse fire near downtown Los Angeles sent plumes of dark smoke billowing into the sky on Wednesday afternoon, prompting shelter-in-place orders for residents due to concerns over hazardous air quality.
Los Angeles firefighters were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. to the blaze in the Boyle Heights neighborhood.
Local news footage captured thick smoke rising from the facility's burning roof, which was covered in solar panels.
Authorities swiftly issued an alert, cautioning about "hazardous materials nearby."
Residents were advised to seal their homes by closing all windows, doors, and vents, switching off air conditioning, and moving people and pets indoors.
Jennifer Middleton, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, confirmed that initial fears that the fire might ignite an ammonia line had "dissipated."
By late afternoon, the roof fire was extinguished, allowing crews to enter the building for an interior assessment.
Online records identify the structure as a cold storage warehouse operated by Lineage Logistics, specializing in the transport of frozen and temperature-controlled goods.
The facility boasts 491,000 square feet (45,600 square meters) of storage space. Lineage Logistics did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
