Firefighters cite progress as Boyle Heights fire burns for fifth day

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Firefighters battled a stubborn cold-storage warehouse fire in Boyle Heights for a fifth day Sunday as residents’ concerns over air quality continue to mount.Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore said fire crews made significant progress in combating the blaze and that if progress continues at this rate, it should be out by week’s end.

The upbeat tone struck by city officials belied the ongoing concerns from neighbors and people across large swaths of L.A.about the smoke that has poured from the building for days.

A particle pollution advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District remains in effect through 12:30 p.m.Monday.Regulatory monitors show that air quality levels ranged from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “very unhealthy” since Saturday night in the areas of Los Angeles County, the San Gabriel Valley and northwest San Bernardino Valley.

There were complaints across social media about poor air quality from residents in those neighborhoods.East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and the San Gabriel Valley will continue to feel the effects of the smoke on Monday.Mayor Karen Bass and Gov.Gavin Newsom jointly declared a state of emergency Saturday because of the unhealthful air quality.

Moore said at a news conference Sunday afternoon that the declaration frees up funds that can bring in more resources in the region.Moore said he is asking for 12 additional fire engines and six additional trucks to help support firefighters.“We’re going to continue to be working this fire throughout the clock,” Moore said.

“I’m hoping by the end of this week, we’ll have this thing completely done and turned over to the building owner and building occupant.”The blaze at the 500,000-square-foot commercial building, which stores 85 million pounds of frozen food, began Wednesday.The corrugated steel walls are filled with dense foam.

Moore s...