Our Lady of Victory Church Distribution and Resource Fair in Boyle Heights, supporting residents as the fire disaster continues (Photo – Office of Sup. Solis)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today ratified a local emergency proclamation in response to the “Los Palos Incident,” a large warehouse fire that has burned since June 17 at a Lineage Logistics cold-storage facility at 1400 S. Los Palos St. in Boyle Heights.
By News Desk
The fire damaged refrigeration systems and led to the release of ammonia, prompting shelter-in-place orders and air quality warnings for nearby communities, including Boyle Heights and unincorporated East Los Angeles. Smoke advisories were issued across portions of Los Angeles County, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District later expanded an air quality advisory countywide.
The emergency proclamation was first issued on June 20 by Board Chair Hilda L. Solis and was followed by a state emergency declaration from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The declaration is intended to expedite access to state and federal resources, support ongoing response and recovery operations, and help secure disaster assistance for affected communities.
“I declared a local emergency because the scale of this fire demands an all-hands-on-deck response and every available resource to protect residents, workers, and first responders,” Solis said. She added that the County remains committed to supporting impacted residents, businesses, and workers while pursuing accountability for those responsible for the incident.
The Board also approved a motion authored by Solis and co-authored by Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn directing County agencies to continue health monitoring, environmental assessments, and community assistance efforts. The motion also calls for coordination with city and state agencies to investigate the incident and evaluate potential enforcement actions and compensation pathways for affected residents and businesses.
The directive includes support measures for workers and businesses, such as outreach, resource referrals, job fairs, and the development of a claims process. County departments are also required to provide ongoing reporting on environmental conditions, recovery efforts, and investigative findings.
In response to the fire, Los Angeles County launched a coordinated emergency effort that includes a 24-hour smoke respite shelter at City Terrace Park in partnership with the American Red Cross. The site has provided affected residents access to health and mental health services, food, water, and other essential resources.
Since the incident began, Solis’ office has distributed emergency supplies across East Los Angeles, including more than 2,300 air purifiers, 10,000 N95 masks, and 1,500 food boxes. Outreach efforts have also included resource events connecting families, workers, and small businesses with county assistance programs.
County officials said the local emergency declaration will remain in effect until terminated by the Board of Supervisors. Response and recovery efforts are expected to continue in the coming weeks as agencies monitor environmental conditions, assess community impacts, and coordinate long-term recovery support.
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