Mayor Bass Issues Declaration of Local Emergency to Mobilize Resources to Fight Warehouse Fire in Boyle Heights

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LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today issued a Declaration of Local Emergency to ensure the City has the resources it needs in the days ahead to continue making progress to put out the large warehouse fire in Boyle Heights.

"While the LAFD continues making progress, this is a major, multi-jurisdictional incident. I'm issuing an emergency declaration to ensure the City has the resources it needs as this operation continues and to keep the community safe," said Mayor Bass. "The City and County have opened spaces for families seeking relief from the smoke, and we will continue working around the clock and doing everything possible to put this fire out completely."

"This emergency declaration is crucial because Boyle Heights is not just responding to a fire. Residents have lived through days of smoke, shelter-in-place orders, disruptions to daily life, and ongoing questions about what this means for their health and well-being," said Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights. "I will continue pushing every level of government to bring the resources this community needs so that emergency response, air monitoring, hazardous debris removal, environmental remediation, and public health protections move forward with urgency. Boyle Heights deserves clear information, direct support, and full accountability throughout the response, cleanup, and recovery process."

The City has opened a Smoke Relief Center at Pecan Recreation Center (145 S Pecan St, Los Angeles CA 90033)open 24 hours a day until further notice. The County of Los Angeles has also opened a Smoke Respite Center at City Terrace Park (1126 N Hazard Ave Los Angeles CA 90063).

Read the full text of the emergency declaration below:

DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, pursuant to the provisions of Section 231(i) of the Los Angeles City Charter and Section 8.27 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, I hereby find the following:

WHEREAS, on June 17, 2026, a major fire erupted at a privately-owned cold-storage warehouse facility in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles and quickly escalated into a major, multi-operational period incident; and

WHEREAS, the incident involved a large commercial cold-storage facility containing refrigeration systems, rooftop solar-panel infrastructure, and other industrial equipment, creating complex and hazardous firefighting conditions; and

WHEREAS, during firefighting operations, emergency responders encountered hazardous materials concerns, including the release and off-gassing of ammonia associated with refrigeration systems, requiring specialized hazardous materials response and air monitoring; and

WHEREAS, the fire generated a substantial smoke plume visible throughout the Los Angeles region, resulting in a shelter-in-place order and smoke and particle pollution advisories affecting residents, schools, businesses, and vulnerable populations throughout Boyle Heights and neighboring communities; and

WHEREAS, the presence of a solar array on the roof, hazardous materials and lithium-ion batteries on site, and approximately 85 million pounds of decaying food products contribute to an incident at this facility beyond the mitigation capabilities of traditional firefighting equipment and methods; and

WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles requires maximum flexibility to undertake emergency protective measures, remove hazards, procure emergency services and equipment, coordinate mutual aid, conduct environmental review and remediation, and seek state and federal assistance; and

WHEREAS, based upon the above events, by reason of their magnitude, and the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents and property of the City of Los Angeles, there exists the potential that these events are likely to become beyond the control of the normal services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the regularly constituted branches and departments of the City Government, and that such emergency conditions require the mobilization of mutual aid resources and the ability to coordinate a multi-agency response.

NOW, THEREFORE, I HEREBY DECLARE the existence of a Local Emergency throughout the City of Los Angeles.

I HEREBY DIRECT the Emergency Operations Organization be immediately activated and take such steps as may be necessary or appropriate for the protection of life, health or property.

I FURTHER DIRECT that all City Departments impacted by this event, and its ongoing effects, continue to conduct damage assessments and collect any relevant cost estimates.

I FURTHER DIRECT that this Declaration of Local Emergency shall take effect immediately and that widespread publicity and notice shall be given through the most feasible and adequate means of disseminating such notice throughout the City.

I HEREBY REQUEST that the Governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State and Federal resources and any other appropriate disaster relief programs.

This Declaration of Local Emergency is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive, or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the City of Los Angeles, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.