Massive fire at warehouse in Boyle Heights triggers shelter-in-place orders, rare helicopter drops

KABC
Last updated: Thursday, June 18, 2026 2:56AM EDT

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A massive fire involving solar panels erupted Wednesday afternoon on a commercial building in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, sending a black column of smoke into the air visible for miles.

The inferno began shortly before 2:30 p.m. at a cold storage facility in the 1400 block of South Los Palos Street.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for the immediate area surrounding the building due to hazardous materials. City officials were asking everyone who lives in those areas to get inside immediately and close all windows and doors. They also advise to turn off air conditioning units and bring all pets indoors.

At least four water-dropping helicopters responded to the scene to help put out the blaze. The Los Angeles Police Department was on tactical alert due to this fire and later went on a modified tactical alert as firefighters got the upperhand.

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Jun 17, 2026, 10:34 PM EDT

Same storage facility roof with solar panels burned before in 2024

The roof full of solar panels on the very same Boyle Heights building burned in a fire two years ago.

On Aug. 14, 2024, firefighters responded to the same building on fire on the 1400 block of S. Los Palos Street.

Crews attacked the blaze and ended up saving the Lineage building following a firefight that lasted around 50 minutes. No injuries were reported, the LAFD said at the time.

According to their website, Lineage is the world's largest temperature-controlled warehousing company.

The company has more than 20 facilities in Southern California and several surrounding downtown Los Angeles. The facility at the center of Wednesday's fire is known as a port location, focusing on imports and exports of foods and beverages. Photos from inside show the high-volume inventory, with rows of cold storage stacked at least seven levels high.

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