A massive fire that has engulfed a Boyle Heights cold storage warehouse in Los Angeles County continues to smolder. It began almost a week ago on Wednesday, June 17. The giant Lineage Logistics facility encompasses 500,000 square feet of space, per the New York Post. Worries about toxic clouds of smoke hanging over the city and its environs also persist as well. According to The Los Angeles Times, fears about people possibly inhaling that smoke day after day are well-founded.
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One expert strongly cautioned residents about it. Will Barrett, assistant vice president for nationwide clean air policy at the American Lung Association, said this. ."There's no safe level of exposure to particle pollution," he noted, per the outlet.
The Smoke May Harbor All Types of Nasty Substances
In this situation, the exposure has been protracted, lasting for days. The affected areas include Maywood, Montebello, Boyle Heights, Bell, and unincorporated East Los Angeles. The smoke may contain "particles, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and chemical gases from incinerated insulation, plastics and paint." All those substances are alarming to pediatrician Dr. Afif El-Hasan, who is mentioned by the outlet.
He explained, "People also need to remember that even if you are healthy, these chemicals are going to put you at risk. It's not just people who are vulnerable, anyone is in danger."
There Could Be a Significant Biohazard Brewing, Too
There is so much food in the burning building that is probably decomposing in the absence of normal refrigeration. Thus, "...{B]oth Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore [are fretting about]...a potential biohazard fallout," per the Post.
At a Saturday, June 20, press conference, Moore said this, per Fox11 Los Angeles, "What we're dealing with now is 85 million pounds of food that's about to go bad and to spoil... It's a biohazard emergency and that's why we've called out to the state."
The perilous circumstances prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to issue a state of emergency on Saturday. Per Fox11 Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass also issued a local emergency declaration. Furthermore, authorities are terming this enormous blaze an "extended event." Getting rid of all the rotting food safely will surely be an epic undertaking in itself.
