Criminal Investigation Underway at Lineage Cold Storage Warehouse

Investigators from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control conducted a criminal investigation at the Lineage Cold Storage Solutions warehouse in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. The warehouse suffered a major fire this past summer. Officers were observed inspecting the offices of the facility before noon. A member of the investigative team confirmed the criminal nature of the probe but did not specify the focus.

Three individuals from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office also appeared at the site. Two dark sedans obstructed the entry to the warehouse.

The fire at the Lineage warehouse began on June 17 and took approximately a week to extinguish. Several complications delayed efforts to control the blaze. Solar panels on the roof initially failed to de-energize, restricting firefighter access. There were also safety risks due to 50-foot stacks of frozen goods inside, and an unexpected ammonia gas leak forced nearby buildings into a shelter-in-place order.

After extinguishing the fire, Lineage faced the urgent task of removing the 89 million pounds of meat and food stored inside to prevent spoilage in the intense summer heat. This process lasted over six weeks, during which local residents reported increased rat and fly infestations and health issues.

The fire department has not established the cause of the fire, but the solar panels remain a possible factor.

Martín Ramírez, who owns a nearby car shop, described seeing workers at the warehouse in the morning. Within minutes, the facility was vacant.