Fire at frozen food warehouse in Los Angeles sends smoke across skyline

LOS ANGELES — A fire that broke out on June 18 at a frozen food warehouse in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles produced a dense smoke cloud that spread across a wide area of the city, visible from surrounding districts. Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency on June 20 as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Officials cited an ammonia leak risk, the presence of explosive equipment and approximately 38,500 tons of decaying food products on site as the main factors complicating firefighting efforts. Air quality in the area has deteriorated significantly, according to authorities. The facility, covering about 45,600 square meters, is operated by Lineage, a global cold-chain and food logistics company. It primarily handles the import and export of meat, seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and dairy products. Los Angeles is among the U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is scheduled to stage eight matches.