Khaberni - Los Angeles authorities declared a state of emergency on Saturday, as firefighting teams have been battling for days a massive fire that broke out in a warehouse and filled the city skies with dense black smoke.
The fire started in the afternoon on Wednesday at a frozen food warehouse covering an area of 46,000 square meters. City officials said the burning of foam insulation, potential ammonia leakage, and melting of solar panels complicated the firefighting efforts.
Karen Bass, mayor of the second largest city in the United States, described the fire in a statement as a "major incident," declaring a state of emergency in the city.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said in a Facebook post, "Smoke has reached most parts of the city... We urge everyone to limit exposure to it as much as possible."
Although the fire is somewhat contained within the warehouse, it is still burning, and the smell of burning plastic is filling the air.
Early on, residents in the area surrounding the warehouse in Boyle Heights, a diverse neighborhood in East Los Angeles, were asked to stay inside their homes, close windows, and avoid breathing the air.
The authorities opened relief centers operating around the clock for those who cannot escape.
However, fire officials later lifted those orders, confirming that the smoke is not toxic and does not differ from the smoke of typical building fires.
Air quality officials issued warnings to residents in the affected areas and advised them to avoid outdoor activities.
A city council member, Isabel Durado, who represents the area where the fire is burning, expressed concern about the long-term health effects in Boyle Heights.
She said in a statement on Saturday, "Residents have suffered for days from the smoke and stay-at-home orders, disruptions to daily life, and ongoing questions about its impact on their health and safety."
