A massive warehouse fire in Los Angeles sent thick black smoke into the sky and forced officials to issue a shelter-in-place warning for nearby residents.
The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in the Boyle Heights neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles. Firefighters responded around 2:30 p.m. after flames were reported on the roof of a large warehouse covered with solar panels.
The building was identified as a cold storage facility operated by Lineage Logistics. The warehouse is used for frozen and temperature-controlled goods and is nearly half a million square feet in size.
As smoke spread across the area, officials warned residents about hazardous air and nearby hazardous materials. People in the affected area were told to go indoors, close windows and doors, shut off air conditioning and keep people and pets inside.
Fire crews initially faced concern that an ammonia line could be affected by the flames. Ammonia is commonly used as a refrigerant in cold storage facilities and can be dangerous if released. Officials later said the immediate ammonia concern had eased.
The fire was especially challenging because the roof was covered with solar panels. Firefighters worked to control the flames while dealing with the size of the building, hazardous smoke and possible electrical risks from the solar equipment.
By late afternoon, officials said the roof fire had been extinguished, and crews began entering the building to assess the interior and check for remaining hot spots or hidden fire damage.
No major injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The incident raised fresh concerns about large warehouse fires in California, especially facilities with solar panels, chemical refrigerants or other hazardous materials. Officials said public safety and air monitoring remained priorities as crews continued working at the scene.
