Governor Declares Emergency as LA Firefighters Combat Prolonged Warehouse Inferno

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles as firefighters continue to battle a persistent warehouse fire that has been burning for several days, generating smoke that drifts across the metropolitan area.

Newsom announced Saturday that state agencies will provide additional assistance and resources to support local efforts in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of east Los Angeles.

“We are coordinating closely with our local partners, deploying specialized expertise, and pre‑positioning critical supplies so communities have the support they need both now and throughout recovery,” Newsom said in a statement.

The fire erupted on Wednesday when the roof of a 500,000‑sq‑ft cold‑storage facility in Boyle Heights ignited. Although firefighters quickly extinguished the initial flames, residual hazards inside the building have hampered full suppression, and smoke continues to travel with the wind into other parts of the county.

The governor’s proclamation follows an earlier emergency declaration by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, emphasized the broader impact: “This emergency declaration is crucial because Boyle Heights is not just responding to a fire. Residents have endured days of smoke, shelter‑in‑place orders, disruptions to daily life, and ongoing concerns about health and wellbeing.”

An ammonia line ruptured during initial firefighting efforts, heightening the danger. Ammonia, a common commercial refrigerant, is highly flammable and can produce toxic fumes.

Authorities initially ordered local residents to shelter in place due to air pollution and the risk of ammonia exposure, and the city and county have opened smoke‑relief centers.

Mayor Bass added, “The city and county have opened spaces for families seeking relief from the smoke, and we will continue working around the clock to extinguish this fire completely.”

Firefighters have been forced to fight the blaze from a distance, employing helicopter water drops. Foam inside the structure continues to smolder, according to the Los Angeles Times.

After the fire is fully extinguished, officials will need to remove roughly 85 million pounds of rotted food, addressing biohazard concerns from spoiled bread, poultry, pork and beef.

Newsom’s statement noted that the state has made more than 5 million N95 respirator masks, air purifiers, bottled water and other supplies available for distribution.

“The warehouse fire has produced significant smoke and particulate matter that may affect air quality in surrounding neighborhoods,” the statement read.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore said at a Saturday news conference that the hazardous‑materials aspect of the blaze has been contained and focus now shifts to the biohazard challenges.

“We have 85 million pounds of frozen food inside this facility, and the building’s layout makes it extremely difficult to gain access because there is zero visibility inside,” Moore explained. “Our firefighters cannot simply enter and start moving pallets.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting

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