Boyle Heights Warehouse Fire: Direct Relief Sends 25,000 N95 Respirators, HEPA Filters Amid L.A. Air Quality Emergency

As smoke from a massive warehouse fire in Boyle Heights continues to affect air quality across Los Angeles County, Direct Relief is providing 25,000 3M N95 respirators and HEPA air filters to help reduce residents' exposure to harmful airborne particles.

The respirators are being distributed through community response efforts coordinated by the City of Los Angeles and through Clínica Oscar Romero, a community health center serving Boyle Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. The support was mobilized following requests from local partners and coordinated in collaboration with the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, or CCALAC.

The fire, which has burned for six days in a 500,000-square-foot commercial building in Boyle Heights, has generated heavy smoke and particulate matter that can pose significant health risks, particularly for children, older adults, pregnant women, and people living with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Air quality concerns have extended beyond the immediate fire zone, prompting health officials to advise residents to limit outdoor exposure and take protective measures.

"Behind every emergency are families trying to stay healthy and safe while navigating uncertainty," said Staci Richard, Head of U.S. Emergency Response at Direct Relief. "As communities across Los Angeles contend with the impacts of this fire, Direct Relief is working alongside trusted local partners to provide practical resources that can help reduce exposure to harmful smoke. Protecting health and strengthening community resilience before, during, and after disasters is central to our mission."

Smoke from large structural fires often contains fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Exposure can worsen chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD, aggravate heart and lung disease, and increase health risks for people with underlying medical conditions.

Direct Relief has supported Los Angeles communities through wildfires, public health emergencies, severe storms, and other crises for decades. The organization regularly works with community health centers, free and charitable clinics, search and rescue teams, and emergency response partners across the region to help ensure essential health services remain available when communities need them most.

The Boyle Heights response reflects Direct Relief's ongoing commitment to helping communities prepare for, withstand, and recover from emergencies by equipping local health providers and frontline organizations with critical resources.