Solar panel test may be linked to massive Los Angeles warehouse fire, officials say
LOS ANGELES (KGO) -- Crews continued working to extinguish a massive warehouse fire in Los Angeles, nearly a week after it began, with officials warning it could take several more days before the blaze is fully under control.
Firefighters have been dismantling portions of the building piece by piece in an effort to reach the fire and suppress remaining hot spots.
The company that operates the site said the fire started while contractors were testing solar panels on the roof, providing a possible explanation for how the blaze began.
The fire has sent smoke into the air, prompting concerns among residents about air quality in surrounding neighborhoods.
"We are making sure that people can protect themselves at home as they go about their day or have a safe place to go," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.
"My office and council member Gerardo's office are proactively distributing masks and air purifiers throughout the impacted neighborhood.
Bass also praised firefighters and emergency personnel responding to the incident.
"What most people don't see is that when those crews leave here, they go straight back to their districts and they continue answering 911 calls for the remainder of their shifts," she said.
Despite concerns about smoke and air quality, the Environmental Protection Agency and local air authorities said they have not detected anything beyond what is typically expected after a fir
Crews remained at the scene as efforts to contain and extinguish the fire continued.
