Residents and businesses in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, continue to grapple with health and economic challenges following a large warehouse fire that left decaying food waste emitting persistent foul odors in the neighborhood. The warehouse, which stored approximately 85 million pounds of food including Kirkland brand meat commonly found in Costco freezers, remains the source of the stench that has driven away customers and drawn nearly 1,000 odor complaints to local air regulators.

Since the fire, Lineage, the company responsible for the facility, has been removing waste under a directive from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to complete the cleanup within 45 days. Officials reported that more than 1,500 tons of waste—equivalent to 521 truckloads—have been transported away from the site so far. The company has implemented a range of odor mitigation measures, including odor-control sprayers around the building, repeated application of neutralizers to the waste, sealing the structure, and installing carbon filters. Trucks transporting the waste are sealed, and workers regularly wash runoff and loading areas to reduce emissions.

Despite these efforts, residents and local officials remain concerned. Boyle Heights community organizer Alma Marquez of Protect LA Now criticized the response, asserting that no party has fully accepted responsibility and called for a mandatory evacuation of the area. Such an order, she argued, would unlock additional resources, including home insurance assistance and other support for affected families. Marquez emphasized that remaining in the area poses more than a mere inconvenience, citing potential health risks.

County Supervisor Hilda Solis acknowledged residents’ frustrations but noted that the decision to enforce an evacuation rests with city authorities leading the incident response. Solis’s office directed public health teams to engage with residents, finding that although many wanted the odors addressed and cleanup expedited, most preferred not to leave their homes. She cautioned that an evacuation would affect both residents who wish to stay and local businesses.

Local businesses report significant impacts from the ongoing situation. Martin Ramirez, who manages a body shop near the warehouse, said the foul smell and infestation of flies and rodents have driven away customers, causing weekly losses estimated at $10,000. He described dealing with a persistent rat inside his office and avoiding poison traps due to a small dog on the premises. Other residents have reported swarms of flies—large, colorful species frequently trapped on sticky tapes set up outside homes and businesses—but the infestations persist, raising concerns about food safety.

Lineage officials stress their commitment to a swift and safe cleanup, working closely with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to monitor air quality and address community concerns. Vice President of Operations Alex Rodriguez stated the company is employing all reasonable measures to reduce odors and mitigate the warehouse’s impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

For long-term Boyle Heights residents like 70-year-old Sabino Soto, the hope remains that normalcy will return once the warehouse is fully cleared. In the meantime, many continue to endure the challenges posed by odors, pests, and ongoing health worries linked to the environmental disruption caused by the fire.