Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · Jun 23
Boyle Heights Fire Sends Nearby AQI to 621 as Readings Drop Back to 66
Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · Jun 23

Boyle Heights Fire Sends Nearby AQI to 621 as Readings Drop Back to 66

3 articles · Updated · KABC-TV · Jun 23

Summary

  • An EPA AirNow sensor a few blocks east of the Boyle Heights cold storage facility fire logged an AQI of 621 at 9 p.m. Monday, well above the 300 threshold for hazardous air.
  • By Tuesday, that same temporary monitor had fallen to 66, showing how sharply smoke exposure near the fire shifted with changing wind patterns.
  • Other nearby sensors showed much lower pollution: one just west of the fire stayed at 95 or below, while another about 3,600 feet east peaked at 171.
  • Doctors urged residents—especially people with underlying conditions—to track the AQI, stay indoors and avoid outdoor exercise even when smoke is not obvious.

Insights

What invisible poisons in the 'biohazard smoke' are standard air quality sensors completely missing?
What is the lasting toxic legacy this fire will leave on the Boyle Heights community?
How did a rooftop solar panel project spark a toxic fire that has burned for over a week?