BOYLE HEIGHTS (CNS) – Firefighters are moving into the overhaul phase of operations at the Lineage cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights Thursday, one day after a knockdown was declared after the fire burned for eight days.
The post-knockdown plan is to demolish half of the building and have crews monitor the debris for any reemerging hot spots that could rekindle a fire, Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Milo Cope told the Los Angeles Times. That could take months, and officials are still considering how to complete the task, according to the Times.
The knockdown of the Palos Fire was declared at 5:58 p.m. Wednesday by the LAFD, meaning there were no active flames and no threat of fire spread. However, debris within the structure continues to smolder.
Smoke conditions in the surrounding area have improved significantly but some smoke may remain visible as firefighters continue to access and extinguish deep-seated hot spots. Firefighters will continue applying water throughout the structure to ensure complete extinguishment, the department announced.
A special Particle Pollution Advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District expired at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Drones equipped with infrared cameras remain in operation, identifying hidden heat sources and allowing crews to direct high-volume water streams precisely where needed, according to the department.
Earlier Wednesday, the department announced flames on the roof had been eliminated overnight, allowing firefighters to focus on smoldering hot spots inside the damaged structure.
The warehouse fire erupted about 2:30 p.m. June 17. While crews initially believed they had contained the blaze — in part through the rare use of water-dropping helicopters on a structure fire — pockets of fire continued to burn inside the structure.
As the fire continued burning, air quality concerns persisted for large swaths of Los Angeles, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and AQMDt have not detected anything beyond normal combustible material typical after a fire, authorities said.
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