LOS ANGELES, CA — Lineage Logistics has filed a lawsuit against three companies involved with the rooftop solar system at its Boyle Heights cold-storage facility, alleging that work on the system contributed to the June 17 fire that destroyed the warehouse and triggered a lengthy cleanup operation.
The company is seeking more than $1 billion in damages, according to the lawsuit.
The defendants named by Lineage are Altus Power Inc., Los Palos Street Operating LLC and Pearce Services LLC. Lineage alleges that problems involving the rooftop solar installation, including wiring, connections and other equipment, were not adequately addressed before the system was energized.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Lineage alleges solar work preceded the fire
According to the complaint, Lineage’s allegations center on the rooftop solar array installed at the approximately 500,000-square-foot cold-storage facility.
Lineage alleges that the solar system was re-energized before critical safety checks had been completed and while work on the system was still underway.
The company further alleges that it had raised concerns about the condition of the system before the fire and that faulty connections and wiring presented safety risks.
The lawsuit claims the fire began while Pearce Services personnel were working on the rooftop solar equipment.
Those allegations are disputed by the companies named in the lawsuit.
The Los Angeles Fire Department previously confirmed that firefighters responded to the commercial structure at 1400 S. Los Palos Street after an alarm at about 2:35 p.m. on June 17.
The fire became a prolonged operation, with firefighters continuing suppression and overhaul work for days. LAFD ultimately declared the incident under control on June 24.
Fire destroyed cold-storage facility and inventory
The warehouse contained large quantities of refrigerated and frozen food products.
Lineage says in its lawsuit that the fire destroyed the facility along with approximately 88 million pounds of frozen food and other products.
The scale of the inventory created a second challenge after the flames were brought under control: removing and disposing of the large amount of spoiled food and other material remaining inside the damaged building.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has documented the extended cleanup and its impact on surrounding communities.
The agency said its personnel conducted mobile air monitoring beginning June 17 and later installed continuous PM2.5 monitors near the incident. South Coast AQMD also conducted smoke-plume modeling while firefighting operations continued.
The agency said the fire generated enough smoke impacts to prompt a particle-pollution advisory that remained in effect through June 24.
Residents continued reporting odors after the fire
While the lawsuit focuses on responsibility for the fire, the effects of the incident extended into the weeks that followed.
As the warehouse was cleaned out, residents in Boyle Heights and surrounding communities continued reporting strong odors associated with the spoiled food and cleanup operations.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health conducted door-to-door outreach and a household survey in the neighborhood surrounding the facility.
The county said many residents who responded to the survey reported frequent, strong and persistent odors following the fire.
South Coast AQMD also said inspectors responded to numerous complaints about rotten, sour and garbage-type odors and traced those odors to cleanup operations at the facility.
By August, the agency said it had issued 26 Notices of Violation to the warehouse operator for violations involving emissions that created a public nuisance.
South Coast AQMD later obtained an Order for Abatement requiring Lineage to comply with more than 90 conditions intended to contain and reduce odors from the cleanup.
The agency also approved up to $5 million in additional funding for residential air filtration assistance for eligible households in Boyle Heights and surrounding communities.
Altus Power disputes Lineage’s allegations
Altus Power has rejected Lineage’s account of what caused the fire.
In a statement provided in response to the lawsuit, Altus disputed Lineage’s allegations and said the company intended to contest the claims in court.
Altus also argued that Lineage, as the tenant and operator controlling the facility, was responsible for site remediation, debris removal and related cleanup work.
The company said it takes safety seriously and pointed to what it described as its safety procedures and response protocols.
The disagreement means that responsibility for the fire remains a central issue in the civil litigation.
Lineage’s complaint represents the company’s allegations, while Altus’ response represents its defense. Neither position has been established as a final finding by a court.
Pearce Services also denies causing the fire
Pearce Services likewise disputes the allegations.
The company said it does not agree with Lineage’s claim that Pearce caused the warehouse fire and emphasized that the investigation into the fire’s cause, origin and spread remains ongoing.
Pearce said it is cooperating with the LAFD and other investigators and intends to defend itself through the legal process.
The company’s position is significant because Lineage’s lawsuit specifically alleges that the fire began while Pearce personnel were working on the rooftop solar system.
At this stage, the competing accounts have not been resolved in court.
Fire investigation and cleanup developed separately
Official records show that the June fire presented significant challenges for emergency crews even before the civil dispute over its cause emerged.
LAFD reported that firefighters encountered structural instability, large storage racks and other conditions that limited access to portions of the building.
During the response, firefighters also dealt with solar panels and lithium-ion batteries inside the facility. LAFD said many solar panels were de-energized and multiple lithium-ion batteries were removed as crews worked to reduce hazards.
On June 18, LAFD said its hazardous-material specialists were monitoring air quality around the structure and that no elevated levels or hazardous conditions had been detected at that time.
The department later continued operations as crews worked to extinguish remaining hot spots and stabilize the damaged structure.
The South Coast AQMD’s Palos Fire response page now documents the broader environmental response, including air monitoring, odor complaints, enforcement actions and assistance for nearby residents.
The lawsuit seeks more than $1 billion
Lineage says the financial consequences of the fire extend far beyond the physical destruction of the warehouse.
The company is seeking more than $1 billion in damages in the lawsuit.
The claimed losses include damage to the facility and inventory, costs associated with the cleanup and other financial consequences that Lineage attributes to the defendants’ alleged conduct.
The lawsuit also comes after months of regulatory activity related to odors and cleanup conditions at the site.
The legal dispute therefore places two separate questions before the courts and investigators: what caused the June 17 fire, and who should ultimately bear responsibility for the resulting losses and cleanup costs.
For now, Lineage maintains that the rooftop solar work was responsible for the fire, while Altus Power and Pearce Services reject that claim.
What happens next
The case will proceed through the civil court system, where the allegations, evidence and competing accounts can be examined.
The fire’s aftermath has already generated separate litigation involving residents and businesses affected by the incident. A federal case arising from the June fire includes claims concerning smoke, soot, ash, combustion byproducts and impacts on surrounding properties, according to court records.
Meanwhile, public agencies continue documenting the environmental and community effects of the cleanup.
The cause and origin of the June 17 fire have not been established as a final court finding, and the allegations made by Lineage remain subject to litigation.
