UMVA has learned that a massive warehouse fire erupted in Boyle Heights, California, on Wednesday, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air.
The storage facility, located in the 1400 block of S Los Palos Street, was engulfed in flames, with firefighters initially operating in offensive mode on the roof before being forced to evacuate due to the rapidly deteriorating situation.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the fire quickly escalated, prompting a shelter-in-place order for areas east of Genasys LFD Zone 1279, which includes neighborhoods between South Soto Street and Indiana Street, and from the 10 Freeway to Washington Boulevard.
Residents in the affected areas were urged to take precautions, as officials warned that the fire could potentially turn into a hazardous materials situation, with heavy smoke posing a significant threat to public health.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the fire was raging at 2:35 p.m. and had already spread extensively, with first responders reporting flames visible from the roof of the massive single-story building, estimated to be around 1,000 feet x 500 feet in size.
The situation remains dire, with firefighters now considering bringing in aerial help to battle the flames, and the incident marks the second massive warehouse fire in Southern California this year, raising concerns about the risk of similar incidents in the region.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that an arson suspect was recently federally charged in connection with a 6-alarm fire that destroyed a 1.2 million square-foot warehouse in Ontario, California, and authorities are now investigating the cause of the Boyle Heights blaze.
