The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health continues to issue citations and maximum allowable fines to Lineage Logistics for on-site unsanitary conditions and pest control violations. Although the company is removing decomposing food from the facility, it has not fixed the underlying problems that led to the violations, and flies and odors continue to impact the neighboring community.

Public Health has issued six citations since July 23. Each citation fines Lineage $500 per day until the violations are corrected. Starting today, Public Health will cite each violation separately, resulting in fines of up to $2,000 per day. Additional citations will be issued if unsanitary or nuisance conditions in the surrounding community continue during subsequent inspections.

Public Health initiated assessments after the June warehouse fire left significant amounts of food in the warehouse that subsequently began rotting, contributing to the pest conditions identified during these assessments and inspections and creating an ongoing odor nuisance affecting nearby communities. The facility is actively removing the food waste as part of its recovery process.

The citations come following a July 15 Official Inspection Report, which identified violations that remained outstanding after a reinspection earlier this week. Public Health has required corrective actions at the site and in the neighboring community.

The corrective actions Lineage must take include:

• Remove and properly dispose of all fire-damaged food, putrescible waste, and other decomposing organic materials from the property in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Eliminate all actual and potential fly breeding sources, including accumulations of organic debris, contaminated liquids, and any other materials capable of supporting fly development.
• Thoroughly clean and sanitize all affected areas to remove residues that may attract or support flies and other vectors.
• Implement effective vector control measures, including treatment of active breeding areas by a licensed pest control operator.
• Take all necessary measures to prevent flies originating from the property from migrating to neighboring properties or creating an ongoing public health nuisance.

Public Health also issued a directive to Lineage on June 29 that requires mitigation efforts in the impacted communities related to the facility fire and subsequent decaying food waste.