LOS ANGELES, June 17 (Xinhua) -- A shelter-in-place order has been lifted in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles on Wednesday after firefighters contained a massive fire that broke out at a commercial building.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said the fire on the roof of the building has been extinguished. "Firefighters are assessing the interior of the structure for fire and additional hazards, as well as monitoring air quality and water run-off," LAFD said in an alert to nearby residents.
Firefighters responded to the incident at approximately 2:35 p.m. local time (2135 GMT) and initially launched an offensive operation from the roof of the single-story commercial building, which covers an area of approximately 46,000 square meters.
The fire department said earlier in an alert that it was issuing the shelter-in-place order for the area "due to hazardous material from a structure fire."
An ammonia leak inside the building prompted the shelter-in-place order, local KABC television station reported. A huge plume of black smoke rose above the city skyline and was visible from several kilometers away.
"Although smoke in the area has decreased, individuals with sensitive health issues should continue to monitor the air quality, remain cautious, stay indoors, close all doors and windows to limit exposure to outdoor air," said LAFD in an update Wednesday night.
The fire department has yet to release the cause of the fire, and no injuries have been reported so far. ■