A massive fire engulfed the roof of a 500,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse in Los Angeles on Wednesday, prompting city officials to order nearby residents to shelter in place as thick clouds of dark smoke and ammonia filled the air.
Fire Breaks Out at Lineage Cold Storage Facility
Approximately 110 firefighters responded to the blaze at the Lineage cold storage and freezing facility in the Boyle Heights neighborhood near downtown, according to Jennifer Middleton, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Both city and county crews, including hazmat teams, were deployed to contain the fire, the cause of which remains under investigation.
By the time firefighters arrived, solar panels covering the roof had caught fire. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged residents in the impacted area to get indoors immediately, close windows and doors, turn off air conditioning, and avoid unnecessary travel.
Ammonia Line Compromised
Firefighters initially attempted to extinguish the fire using hand lines on the roof, but were forced to retreat after an ammonia line burst. LAFD Chief Jaime Moore explained that the compromised line resulted in a large, pressurized off-gassing of ammonia. Cold storage facilities commonly use ammonia as a cost-effective refrigerant, but it is both toxic and flammable.
Moore warned residents with health conditions to avoid breathing contaminated air by staying indoors with windows closed and air conditioning off while the city monitored air quality for evidence of ammonia off-gassing.
Helicopters Deployed as Fire Intensifies
The fire grew so large and hazardous that responders took the unusual step of dousing it from above with helicopters. At least three helicopters delivered more than half a dozen water drops, according to Middleton. Moore noted that the amount of fire overwhelmed the water supply, forcing firefighters to evacuate the area temporarily during the off-gassing.
Lineage did not immediately respond to a request for comment. By evening, the roof fire had been largely contained, Middleton said. However, the roof showed signs of sagging, and the presence of solar panels raised concerns about lithium-ion batteries used to store energy from the sun. Moore called lithium-ion batteries one of the newest challenges in fire service, noting their potential for thermal runaway, which makes them difficult to extinguish.
Middleton emphasized the extreme difficulty of fighting such fires and the danger posed by hazardous smoke. The incident highlights the growing risks associated with renewable energy storage and industrial refrigeration systems.
