Ammonia Leak From LA Cold-Storage Fire Exposes Hazmat Vulnerability in Mixed Neighborhoods

A fire at Lineage Logistics in Boyle Heights released anhydrous ammonia—the refrigerant standard for industrial cold storage—into a densely populated area on June 17. Authorities ordered shelter-in-place as the chemical dispersed, posing acute respiratory risks. The incident underscores compounded exposure when industrial containment systems fail near residential zones.