2026 Palos Fire

Boyle Heights

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was the lead agency on this response. South Coast AQMD, at the request of LAFD, conducted mobile monitoring on both the evening of June 17th and 18th to assess air quality impacts associated with the fire.

South Coast AQMD experts were also working around the clock to monitor the air quality and conduct modeling for the smoke plume since the start of the incident. During the ongoing firefighting efforts, South Coast AQMD was observing smoke impacts throughout the region, and a special smoke (particle pollution advisory) was issued on June 17th and extended until June 24th, in English and Spanish.

LAFD conducted air monitoring for ammonia and other gases at the facility. During the fire, U.S. EPA was also supporting LAFD and performed air toxics monitoring and sampling at the perimeter of the Lineage building.

MOBILE MONITORING

Mobile surveys measured for particulate matter and toxic metals (6/17 & 6/18) as well as Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) (6/18). Please note, these surveys capture a snapshot (less than 5 min).

Mobile surveys do not sample for a long enough time period at any location to establish risks to human health. They are used to identify potential hot spots and help guide where stationary monitoring sites may be needed.

June 17th Mobile Survey

Significantly elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5) were observed for a few seconds at a time within the plume downwind of the fire. (Figures 1 and 2)
Air toxic metals levels were within typical ranges. (Figures 3-7)
Increased levels of bromine and chlorine were observed. Bromine and chlorine are typically found at trace levels during structural fires and the levels seen were below short-term health-based exposure thresholds. (Figures 8 and 9)

Figure 1: Map shows concentrations of PM2.5 measured on June 17, 2026. Scale maximum is the 24 hour average federal standard (35 ug/m3).

Figure 2: Map shows concentrations of PM2.5 measured on June 17, 2026. Scale maximum is the highest instantaneous level observed on June 17 & 18 (2200 ug/m3).

Figure 3: Map shows concentrations of Lead (Pb) measured on June 17, 2026. Results were below the federal standard for this pollutant (150 ug/m3 averaged over a 3-month period).

Figure 4: Map shows concentrations of Arsenic measured on June 17, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (200 ng/m3).

Figure 5: Map shows concentrations of Total Chromium measured on June 17, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (480 ng/m3).

Figure 6: Map shows concentrations of Nickel measured on June 17, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (200 ng/m3).

Figure 7: Map shows concentrations of Copper measured on June 17, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (100,000 ng/m3).

Figure 8: Map shows concentrations of Bromine measured on June 17, 2026. Scale maximum is the high range of typical levels observed in recent mobile monitoring in East and South East Los Angeles.

Figure 9: Map shows concentrations of Chlorine measured on June 17, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (210,000 ng/m3).

June 18th Mobile Survey

Significantly elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5) were observed for a few seconds at a time within the plume downwind of the fire. (Figures 10 and 11)
No measurable levels of HF were seen. (Figure 12)
Air toxic metals levels were within typical ranges. (Figures 13-17)
Increased levels of bromine and chlorine were observed. Bromine and chlorine are typically found at trace levels during structural fires and the levels seen were below short-term health-based exposure thresholds. (Figures 18 and 19)

Figure 10: Map shows concentrations of PM2.5 measured on June 18, 2026. Scale maximum is the 24 hour average federal standard (35 ug/m3).

Figure 13: Map shows concentrations of Lead (Pb) measured on June 18, 2026. Results were below the federal standard for this pollutant (150 ug/m3 averaged over a 3-month period).

Figure 15: Map shows concentrations of Total Chromium measured on June 18, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (480 ng/m3).

Figure 14: Map shows concentrations of Arsenic measured on June 18, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (200 ng/m3).

Figure 17: Map shows concentrations of Copper measured on June 18, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (100,000 ng/m3).

Figure 19: Map shows concentrations of Chlorine measured on June 18, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (210,000 ng/m3).

Figure 18: Map shows concentrations of Bromine measured on June 18, 2026. Scale maximum is the high range of typical levels observed in recent mobile monitoring in East and South East Los Angeles.

Figure 16: Map shows concentrations of Nickel measured on June 18, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (200 ng/m3).

Figure 11: Map shows concentrations of PM2.5 measured on June 18, 2026. Scale maximum is the highest instantaneous level observed on June 17 & 18(2200 ug/m3).

Figure 12: Map shows concentrations of Hydrofluoric Acid measured on June 18, 2026. Results were below the state's short-term (1-hour) health threshold for this pollutant (289 ppb).

June 19th Deployment of Two PM2.5 Continuous Monitors

South Coast AQMD then deployed particulate matter (PM2.5) monitors at Eastman Avenue Elementary and Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School and fed that data, along with our regionally placed air monitors and hundreds of local sensors, into our air quality map to provide localized information via our South Coast AQMD mobile app or at www.aqmd.gov.

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2026 Palos Fire

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MOBILE MONITORING

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