Southern California residents impacted by the cold-storage warehouse fire in Boyle Heights last year now have new protections, as Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills this past Sunday. The legislation aims to strengthen accountability for large facilities and provide resources for communities facing similar emergencies.
"Boyle Heights showed us the lasting impact a major facility emergency can have on a community," Governor Newsom said in a statement. He added that the new laws are designed to bolster "tools, resources and accountability needed to protect residents and help communities respond when emergencies happen."
One of the new laws, Senate Bill 716, was authored by State Sen. María Elena Durazo, a Democrat representing Los Angeles. This bill significantly increases fines for violations of local ordinances involving specific nonresidential structures that measure 20,000 square feet or more, particularly when those violations pose a threat to public health and safety. If violations lead to a governor-declared state of emergency or a federal disaster declaration, the penalties could reach up to $50,000. Initially, these enhanced penalties will apply within Los Angeles County, with plans to expand to qualifying areas across the state starting July 1, 2028.
The second piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 817, was authored by Assemblyman Mark González, also a Democrat from Los Angeles. This bill establishes new requirements for contingency funds dedicated to specified community needs, applicable to certain large cold storage facilities. Until July 1, 2028, these requirements will apply to facilities within the boundaries of the Boyle Heights Community Plan in the city of Los Angeles, before expanding statewide on July 1, 2028.
Durazo emphasized the dire conditions residents faced after the fire. "Families in Boyle Heights and East LA were exposed to toxic smoke and lived with the stench of millions of pounds of rotting food for months. They could not open their windows and could not let their kids play outside," Durazo said. She noted that residents' health suffered while the company responsible faced what she called "fines too small to matter." Durazo framed the new laws as a clear message from Governor Newsom: "Corporations that put our communities at risk will finally face consequences that reflect the harm they cause." She added that the bills represent a victory for a community that endured the crisis, organized in response, and demanded better.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the signing of the legislation, acknowledging the collaborative effort with Assemblymember González and Senator Durazo. Mayor Bass stated that these laws will ensure cold storage companies take responsibility for the impacts of their operations, offer crucial protections for residents during emergencies, and empower cities and counties to levy higher fines when community health and safety are jeopardized. She affirmed her commitment to connecting residents to critical assistance and pushing for the answers and accountability the community deserves.
The inspiration for these bills was the fire that erupted on June 17 last year at the Lineage Logistics facility, located at 1400 S. Los Palos St. The blaze burned for days, resulting in millions of pounds of rotting food and significantly affecting nearby residents. Lineage eventually carried out an extensive cleanup operation at the site. While the official cause of the fire remains undetermined, investigators found that it originated on the roof, specifically at or near a section of solar panels. Lineage has since filed a lawsuit against Altus Power Inc., which owns the solar array on the building's roof, and Pearce Services, the contractor, alleging they were responsible for starting the fire. A representative from Los Palos Street Operating, a subsidiary of Altus, has disputed Lineage’s allegations and indicated the company plans to contest the claims in court.
These new laws set a precedent for how large industrial facilities will be regulated in Southern California and eventually across the state, ensuring that the burden of such disasters does not fall solely on the affected communities.
