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BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Boyle Heights residents are calling for the permanent closure of the Lineage Logistics warehouse that burned for more than a week, as cleanup efforts continue beyond a city-imposed deadline.
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Behind fencing that does little to contain the odor of rotting food, cleanup crews are working around the clock at the fire-damaged facility. Community members say they continue to deal with environmental and health concerns linked to the site.
“The community wants Lineage out” one speaker said Monday during a rally held next to the warehouse.
The warehouse, which spans 500,000 square feet, caught fire two months ago, sending thick black smoke over Boyle Heights for days.
Advocates say community members are still experiencing health issues.
The city says Lineage missed a deadline set by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in July that required cleanup to be completed by 5 p.m. Aug. 14.
In a statement Friday, Lineage told Eyewitness News it is targeting completion of food removal by Aug. 20, followed by cleaning and disinfecting the site by Aug. 27.
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Some residents and advocates also oppose plans to rebuild the warehouse.
“They already plan to rebuild. We see that, they’ve submitted permits, they have every intention of rebuilding,” said another speaker at the rally.
Boyle Heights resident Mariana Gomez said the situation highlights the need for stronger protections for communities facing environmental hazards.
“We need new policies that protect us because the world is changing. The conditions are not the same as when these laws were made, these permits were given,” she said.
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Bass has made regular visits to the neighborhood and has pledged support for the community.
On Monday, L.A. City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman joined residents at the rally calling for accountability from the company.
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“Lineage should not be allowed to reopen this warehouse,” Raman told the crowd.
Lineage said the cleanup effort has cost the company more than $100 million.