What Happened

BySareen HabeshianReporting fromLos AngelesPublished9 August 2026, 01:15 BSTOn any typical day, Alexis Sicairos and his girlfriend have a line of patrons waiting to order a banana a cloud matcha Angeles coffee stand. But now, the street corner largely empty.

On 17 June, a fire destroyed a large cold-storage warehouse , leaving behind some 85 million lb (39 million kg) of rotting food, including beef, pork, poultry and seafood.

Nearly two months later, residents of Boyle Heights - a lot longer than expected and they've grown frustrated with the pungent odour hovering .

"It smells really bad, like really bad... ," says Mesha, a 37-year-old security guard stationed outside a marijuana dispensary.

Why It Matters

Lineage, the company that operated the warehouse, Monday about 80% removed. But city officials company's response had "fallen short" issued public health and safety violation notices.

, "It's been tough," Sicairos, 30, says. After shutting down his coffee because , reopened - but the demand hasn't .

swarming relentlessly , stored in the warehouse began rotting.

The warehouse workers that would previously coffee haven't been showing months.

What Comes Next

", obviously 't here," Sicairos says. " customers, customers that don't around the smell, the smoke, the flies. It's understandable. paying our bills, so we'."

walk through the area, which is mostly a warehouse district surrounded by homes, without swatting away countless flies, , including black, .

As Sicairos coffee , flies are landing on his tables . He acknowledges that patrons don't 're purchasing food or drinks to consume.

A city-commissioned inspection report temperatures at the warehouse breeding of flies capable of infecting wounds in both people and animals, a local NBC affiliate reported, external.

The report from a pest control company people and animals with open wounds contracting disease.

People in the community have also reported seeing large rats, placed along sidewalks aren't big enough .

inadequate response a lack of transparency and resources.

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