WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) took to the House floor to spotlight the ongoing public health emergency caused by the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire in Boyle Heights and called for accountability, environmental testing, and continued support for impacted communities.
Since the fire began, smoke and hazardous fumes have spread beyond Boyle Heights and into neighborhoods across Los Angeles, forcing residents to remain indoors and raising concerns about long-term health impacts
"Families in Boyle Heights and across Los Angeles are living through a public health emergency," said Rep. Gomez. "They can't go outside, they can't open their windows, and they're worried about the air they're breathing. Our community deserves answers, accountability, and every resource necessary to recover from this disaster."
During his remarks, Gomez highlighted the disproportionate environmental burdens often placed on working-class communities and communities of color and emphasized that emergency response efforts must extend beyond extinguishing the fire.
"Firefighters have worked around the clock to contain this fire, but the response cannot stop there," Gomez said. "We need comprehensive air quality testing, soil testing, and ongoing health monitoring to understand the full impact on residents and workers."
Rep. Gomez has been in contact with federal, state, and local officials regarding the fire and has urged the EPA and FEMA to stand ready to provide assistance if requested. He has also called for a full investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
"For too long, communities like Boyle Heights have been asked to live with the consequences of industrial pollution while corporations avoid accountability," Gomez continued.
"I will keep pushing to ensure every affected family gets the answers, accountability, and resources they deserve."
