A large commercial warehouse facility in downtown Los Angeles, the largest city in the western United States, suddenly caught fire on the 17th. The flames ignited solar panels on the roof, producing a large amount of toxic smoke.
The fire occurred at a cold storage logistics facility operated by Lineage, located in the 1400 block of South Los Palos Street in Los Angeles.
Since the fire may involve hazardous materials, the Los Angeles Fire Department has issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area.
The Los Angeles Fire Department stated that the fire spread to ammonia pipelines inside the building. While an ammonia leak may not necessarily cause poisoning, individuals with respiratory conditions are advised to closely monitor their health.
Several small explosions triggered by the ammonia leak caused the fire to reignite and spread rapidly. Thick black smoke shot up into the sky, visible from miles away.