Massive Los Angeles Warehouse Fire Prompts Shelter-in-Place Order

LOS ANGELES, California — A massive warehouse fire in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles has triggered a shelter-in-place order after a suspected ammonia leak forced emergency crews to shift their tactical approach.

The blaze erupted around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at a sprawling 491,000-square-foot cold storage facility located between Washington Boulevard and the 5 Freeway on Indiana Street. Thick, black smoke quickly enveloped the area, prompting the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to deploy aerial resources. Helicopters were utilized to execute water drops, with each chopper releasing 480 gallons of water per pass to combat the rapidly spreading flames across the building’s roof and solar panels. Up to three helicopters were eventually ordered to assist in the aerial assault.

The incident is heavily complicated by the presence of anhydrous ammonia, a chemical used in the facility’s refrigeration system. LAFD spokesperson Jennifer Middleton confirmed the presence of the toxic chemical at the scene. Anhydrous ammonia is highly dangerous and lighter than air; exposure can cause acute respiratory distress, severe chemical burns to the eyes and throat, and even death. Due to the severe public health hazard and several small explosions inside the structure that reinvigorated the flames, firefighters transitioned from an offensive to a defensive strategy, pulling personnel back to avoid toxic exposure.

Mark Navo, a FEMA coordinator and former battalion chief, explained the unique challenges of the blaze. He noted that because the building is a cold storage facility, the fire damaged sealed pipes containing the anhydrous ammonia, causing it to leak outside its containers. Navo pointed out the unusual nature of the response, stating that the department is employing wildland firefighting tactics—such as helicopter water drops—for a structural fire because of the extreme risks posed by the toxic gas to both first responders and the surrounding community.

The Los Angeles Police Department enforced strict perimeters, turning away residents and media due to the toxic plume, which was observed traveling eastbound before shifting with the wind. Paramedics staged directly below the smoke plume with gurneys in preparation for potential injuries. One local resident, who had lived in the area for four years just two blocks from the facility, was evacuated by police shortly after arriving home from work. She was sheltering with her two daughters—noting that her sister was watching them while she was at work—and mentioned that the building was locally known as a recyclables warehouse.

This is not the first time the massive structure has experienced a major fire. The facility’s solar panels previously caught fire on August 14, 2024. That incident required 80 LAFD firefighters and took just over 45 minutes to extinguish, with no injuries reported. Additionally, the same company reported a weeks-long warehouse fire at a Washington state location in 2024.

As crews continue to battle the flames and monitor the air quality, officials are urging anyone in the surrounding area to heed the shelter-in-place call by staying indoors, closing all doors and windows, and turning off air conditioning units. The exact cause of Wednesday’s blaze remains under investigation.