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Airbnb Pledges $1 Million as City Rushes to Remove 85 Million Pounds of Spoiled Food in Boyle Heights

UCLA testing found odor compounds tied to decomposing food below public‑health emergency thresholds, signaling ongoing nuisance and health concerns for neighbors.

Overview

  • A fire at the Lineage Logistics warehouse began June 17 and burned for about a week before crews knocked it down on June 24, leaving roughly 85 million pounds of frozen food to thaw and rot.
  • City officials ordered a 45‑day accelerated cleanup with an Aug. 13 target to remove the spoiled waste, a task that will require thousands of sealed truck trips, deodorizing and pest control.
  • UCLA Fielding School of Public Health researchers detected volatile organic compounds that act as tracers of decomposing food in neighborhood air samples, but measured levels did not meet thresholds for a public‑health emergency.
  • Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced an additional $1 million from Airbnb to fund temporary housing for residents inside a defined perimeter, with nonprofit 211 LA to identify and book eligible stays.
  • Community leaders are asking Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a disaster zone and order mandatory evacuations while multiagency probes examine the fire’s origin, roof solar testing, permitting and corporate responsibility.