Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado (left) and her team have been going door-to-door to check on affected residents. FILE PHOTOS
LOS ANGELES – Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado has led relief efforts as Los Angeles City Saturday issued a declaration of local emergency to mobilize resources to address a massive fire at a cold storage facility in Boyle Heights.
Jurado, who represents the 14th Council District, which includes Boyle Heights, said the emergency declaration is crucial because the hazards go beyond just the fire.
The sky is filled with smoke from a warehouse fire in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Filipino American councilwoman said she and her team have been on the ground, going door-to-door to check on affected families.
“Residents have lived through days of smoke, shelter-in-place orders, disruptions to daily life and ongoing questions about what this means for their health and well-being,” Jurado said in a statement Saturday.
Unified front
She said residents should not have to carry the burden of this emergency alone.
“My office will continue to work alongside our partners that are up here today as a unified front to make sure that Boyle Heights gets the resources, information, and support its needs — not just today, but throughout the recovery process,” Jurado said.
Water is dropped by helicopter at a warehouse fire in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Crews work a warehouse fire in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
During a news conference Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she and her colleagues understand residents are fearful, and they are prepared to address their concerns.
State of emergency
“I’m issuing an emergency declaration to ensure the city has the resources it needs as this operation continues and to keep the community safe,” Bass said in a statement Saturday afternoon.
City officials have been in communication with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, she added.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis, who represents East LA, said she will introduce a motion on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency for the county.
The city opened a smoke-relief center at Pecan Recreation Center, located at 145 S. Pecan St. Meanwhile, the county opened a smoke-respite center at City Terrace Park, located at 1126 N. Hazard Ave.
Fire spreads rapidly
The blaze began shortly after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lineage Logistics, a cold storage facility that stores food.
The blaze rapidly spread across solar panels on the roof of the 491,000-square-foot warehouse, while an ammonia leak developed inside the building and thick smoke billowed into the air, prompting shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents and businesses.
Later that day, fire officials reported the spread of the fire had been halted, and the shelter-in-place order was lifted. But as a result of changing winds, the fire re-ignited inside the building, and by Friday firefighters were again battling flames and conducting overhaul operations as smoke continued to rise from the damaged structure.
Pollution advisory
A special Particle Pollution Advisory issued Saturday by the South Coast Air Quality Management District was extended until June 21.
“Regulatory monitors and sensors show that PM2.5 levels reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Very Unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI) categories since Friday night in the areas of central Los Angeles Country, San Gabriel Valley, East San Fernando Valley and Northwest San Bernardino Valley,” the SCAQMD stated.
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