Updated

Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 20

Los Angeles Declares Emergency Over 500,000-Square-Foot Warehouse Fire as Solar Testing Is Blamed

Updated

Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 20

Los Angeles Declares Emergency Over 500,000-Square-Foot Warehouse Fire as Solar Testing Is Blamed

Q: What invisible toxic gases from rotting food now pose a long-term health risk to residents?

The main invisible gases of concern from the rotting food are hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, with methane and some volatile organic compounds also possible as decomposition continues. Experts on waste decomposition say spoiled meat and bread can release hydrogen sulfide, the gas associated with a rotten-egg smell, and ammonia, a strong irritant. Those gases are the most directly tied to decaying organic material and can cause headaches, nausea, eye and throat irritation, and breathing problems. For nearby residents, repeated exposure is especially concerning for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Longer-term risk is not limited to odor. Decomposing waste can also generate methane and non-methane volatile organic compounds, including hazardous compounds such as benzene or vinyl chloride in some waste settings. Public-health guidance generally treats hydrogen sulfide and ammonia as the immediate community exposure concern, while VOCs and fine smoke particles from the fire add to the broader air-quality risk. So, the clearest answer is that hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are the key toxic gases now feared from the rotting food, with methane and potentially harmful VOCs adding to the longer-term air-quality concern. Residents in affected areas should follow shelter guidance, avoid outdoor exposure during odor or smoke events, and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 20

Los Angeles issued a local emergency as a Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse fire entered a multi-day fight, with smoke and haze spreading across much of the region and residents urged to limit outdoor activity.
Lineage Logistics said third-party contractors were testing the roof solar array when the blaze began Wednesday at the 500,000-square-foot facility, which holds 85 million pounds of frozen food.
Fire crews said burning foam insulation, ignited solar panels and deep pockets of fire under debris have slowed containment, though ammonia has been mitigated and pumped offsite.
Air agencies and the EPA deployed monitors for particles, volatile compounds and other toxins, while officials warned that smoke remains the main health risk and spoiled meat and poultry could create a biohazard after the fire.