Air quality regulators conducted an inspection at the burned Lineage warehouse in Boyle Heights on Saturday and verified that millions of pounds of rotting food have been removed from the facility. The visit marked a key step after weeks of regulatory oversight, with the company shifting focus to disinfection of the property.
Residents living nearby expressed continued frustration, stating that the removal of the food does not resolve all issues at the site. They described persistent rodent activity and odors that have affected their homes since the fire in mid-July.
Regulators have recorded nearly 5,000 odor complaints tied to the warehouse and have issued Lineage 38 violations during that period. The scale of the response highlights the impact on the surrounding community over the past two months.
A worker involved in the cleanup sustained an injury at the site on Saturday afternoon and was transported to a hospital. Lineage stated that the injury was not life-threatening, while also noting that overall remediation expenses are expected to exceed $100 million.
Ana Barrera, a nearby resident, said her family has encountered several rats on the property and around their home in recent weeks. She voiced skepticism that the problems would fully subside, citing strong odors that lingered into the morning hours.
Edith Padilla, who lives on the same block, said she wants the area completely free of rats, mosquitoes and flies once crews finish their work. Lineage has seven days to complete debris removal, power-washing and disinfection, though a council committee has called for holding any rebuilding permits until the fire investigation concludes.
This report is based on coverage by FOX 11 Los Angeles: https://www.foxla.com/news/lineage-boyle-heights-warehouse-cleanup-rotting-food-removed