Solis Brings County Departments Together for Recovery Update Following Warehouse Fire

During the presentation, Board Chair Solis questioned County departments, utility providers and air quality officials about debris removal, environmental monitoring, temporary housing assistance, utility bill relief, business and worker recovery programs, public health protections and enforcement mechanisms to ensure Lineage fulfills its commitments to impacted communities.

Board Chair Solis also highlighted recent correspondence between Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer Joe Nicchitta and Lineage Logistics that resulted in commitments from the company to expand eligibility for recovery assistance and improve coordination of recovery programs serving residents in unincorporated East Los Angeles.

“One month later, residents are still seeking answers, assistance and accountability,” said Board Chair Solis. “My priority is making sure East Los Angeles families have access to the resources they need and that recovery efforts are coordinated, transparent and equitable. While County departments and community partners have worked tirelessly to support residents, Lineage must continue stepping up to meet its responsibilities and help ensure impacted communities receive the support they deserve.”

Since the fire, Board Chair Solis has coordinated an emergency response that includes resource distribution, public health outreach, environmental monitoring and connections to recovery services. To date, more than 11,500 air purifiers, food boxes, cases of water and boxes of N95 masks have been distributed to residents in East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights.

During the discussion, Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis provided an update on the County’s ongoing outreach efforts. Public health teams have canvassed nearly 700 homes in the areas most impacted by the fire, where residents shared concerns about lingering odors, air quality and other effects from the incident. Dr. Davis also explained that a mandatory evacuation order is reserved for circumstances involving an imminent threat to life safety and would require the displacement of residents, workers and businesses across a broad area. He noted that, during the County’s outreach efforts, many residents indicated they wanted to remain in their homes while recovery efforts continue.

For residents who wanted to temporarily leave their homes, Board Chair Solis secured relocation assistance through a partnership with Airbnb.org and 211 LA, providing temporary housing options for those living in the areas most impacted by the fire. These services were offered during the outreach effort to ensure residents had access to support and resources based on their individual needs.

In addition, South Coast AQMD provided an update on the directive letter issued to Lineage on July 17, requiring the company to implement additional odor controls and strengthen its Odor Management Plan with additional mitigation measures. Due to Lineage’s failure to respond by today’s noon deadline, South Coast AQMD escalated the matter to its Governing Board for additional accountability and enforcement action.

As recovery efforts continue, Southern California Edison representatives reported that Lineage has finalized a partnership to provide utility bill assistance to eligible customers impacted by the fire within a designated service area. The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity also provided an update on its recovery efforts, including canvassing 66 businesses in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles to connect employers, workers and small businesses with available relief programs, recovery resources and technical assistance.

Residents and small businesses seeking assistance can call 211 or visit recovery.lacounty.gov/eastla to learn more about available recovery resources and services.