'This problem is not over yet.' Boyle Heights fire, air pollution continues

As the Boyle Heights fire burns for the sixth straight day, here's an update on the latest conditions:

Officials hope when the fire will stop?

Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore said he hoped crews would extinguish the blaze at the cold storage facility by midweek and return the building to its operator, Lineage Logistics, on Friday.

What was the firefighting strategy on Monday?

Firefighters continued their efforts to take apart the building and get to the flames hidden inside as other crews arrived from across the county to help battle the blaze on Monday.

“Huge equipment operators systematically removed sections of exterior walls, allowing our firefighters to direct water streams to previously inaccessible areas of the building and extinguish remaining areas of fire,” Moore said.

Workers use water guns to blast about 12,000 gallons of water per minute on pallets of burning products on 65-foot-tall racks, 600 feet long inside the warehouse, he said.

What about air quality?

Officials say there is little smoke from the fire, but it is still a source of bad air in the region. Moore said fire activity continued to decrease throughout Monday and that smoke conditions in surrounding areas had “improved significantly.”

LA County Health Officer Muntu Davis said the air quality has varied during the incident.

“Currently, in some areas that were unhealthy yesterday, they are good, or moderate, while in others they are still unhealthy,” he said on Monday afternoon. He recommended residents check the South Coast Air Quality Management district's online map for the latest information on air quality in their area.

The South Coast AQMD has extended the particle pollution advisory until 12:30 pm Tuesday. It covers a large area in central Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.

Residents of the area have been concerned about the health effects.

“I want to be clear that this problem is not over,” said City Council Member Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights. “Families are still dealing with smoke, odors, ash, closed parks and public spaces, disruptions and serious concerns about what they are breathing. And people are tired, worried, and they have to get answers.”

What can citizens do to protect themselves?

Officials said the biggest public health concern for those affected is the smoke's fine particles that can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and aggravate heart and lung conditions. Children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions may be more sensitive to particulate pollution, Davis said.

Residents can contact Jurado's office at (323) 526-9332 or fill out an online form to request an air purifier.

The Los Angeles County Health Department has issued some basic tips for dealing with wildfire smoke:

• If you smell smoke or see smoke or ash on the floor, avoid vigorous exercise and stay indoors with doors and windows closed.
• Start the air purifier if there is one.
• Avoid using a whole-house air conditioner or humidifier, as it can bring dirty air into the house.
• If you see or smell smoke, or notice particles and ash in the air, stay indoors to reduce exposure, especially if you have heart or lung conditions, are elderly or have children.
• Wear an N95 or P100 mask if you must go outside in smoky conditions for a long time in areas with heavy smoke or ash.
• If it's too hot to keep windows and doors closed, go to a public place like a library or shopping center to stay cool and protect yourself from the harsh air.
• Avoid using stoves, candles or vacuums. Clean dusty areas with a damp cloth, and do not smoke.
• If you experience symptoms such as a severe cough, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, nausea or unusual fatigue, contact your doctor or go to emergency care. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911. The city opened a smoke shelter at the Pecan Recreation Center at 145 S. Pecan St., and the county opened one at City Terrace Park at 1126 N. Hazard Ave.

Times staff writers Hayley Smith and Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report.