Firefighters continue battling Los Angeles warehouse fire as smoke persists

Los Angeles, June 22 (IANS) Firefighters in the US city of Los Angeles continued efforts overnight and into Sunday to contain a fire at a large industrial building in the city, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said.

The fire broke out at a large warehouse in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, generating heavy smoke that has spread across parts of the metropolitan area for several days.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Saturday declared a local emergency in response to the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the latest update from the LAFD on Sunday, crews have successfully confined the fire to one side of the building.

Firefighters removed sections of the exterior wall overnight to improve access and allow water to reach areas that had been difficult to extinguish.

The LAFD said the structure presents significant operational challenges, as large storage racks limit firefighters’ ability to safely deploy handlines inside the building.

Many solar panels at the site have been de-energized, and multiple lithium-ion batteries have been removed, significantly reducing risks to firefighters and nearby communities, according to the LAFD.

Fire crews are expected to continue suppression operations throughout the day, applying large volumes of water to extinguish remaining fire.

Officials warned that the volume and color of smoke visible in surrounding areas may fluctuate as firefighting efforts continue.

No evacuation orders or shelter-in-place directives are currently in effect, according to the LAFD.

A smoke advisory remains in place for areas east of Boyle Heights. Residents sensitive to smoke were advised to monitor air quality alerts issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure.

–IANS

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