The vast cache of rotting food left behind by a devastating warehouse fire in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, is finally being cleared, more than two months after the blaze knocked out refrigeration and left millions of pounds of meat, seafood and other produce to decay. The South Coast Air Quality Management District confirmed that enforcement officers inspected the site and verified completion of a "major phase" of the clean-up, following weeks of overpowering odours that blighted the surrounding community. This matters because thousands of residents had endured a prolonged public health and quality-of-life crisis, with pest infestations and near-constant complaints, making the announcement a long-awaited sign of relief.

The fire broke out on 17 June at the Lineage Logistics facility and burned for over a week, destroying refrigeration systems and leaving an estimated 8.5 million pounds of food to rot inside a six-storey structure. Since mid-July, regulators have logged more than 4,900 odour complaints, issued dozens of violation notices, and local health officials handed out over 30 citations totalling $600,000 (£475,000) for issues including decaying waste and fly activity. Lineage now has seven days to finish remaining work, including debris removal and disinfecting the building's interior, with the clean-up expected to cost the company roughly $100 million (£79 million) in total.