Lineage has accused Altus Power, a solar panel subcontractor, of obstructing demolition work at a fire-damaged warehouse in Boyle Heights, leading to delays in cleanup efforts.
In a letter addressed to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Lineage CEO Greg Lehmkuhl stated that demolition was prepared to commence on Friday under emergency executive orders and a county public health directive. However, demolition crews were subsequently ordered to halt the work, a pause Lineage suggested might be intended to preserve evidence related to the June 17 blaze.
Lehmkuhl asserted that the planned demolition would not affect the suspected origin area or materials crucial for evidence preservation. He emphasized Lineage's commitment to a swift and safe remediation process, stating, "Public safety is our No. 1 priority."
Altus Power responded by stating its primary concern is the community's well-being and that it is cooperating with officials. An Altus spokesperson indicated that concerns about the investigation remain valid as the fire's official cause has not been determined. The spokesperson added, "In the last 24 hours, multiple parties joined in asking Lineage to appropriately preserve and not destroy relevant evidence during its site remediations."
Mayor Bass, in a response letter, clarified that the city is not requesting the demolition of areas relevant to the investigation but rather urging Lineage to focus on mitigating flare-ups and removing rotting food waste. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado echoed the call for cooperation, stating, "No private party should be allowed to use process, finger-pointing, or liability disputes as an excuse to slow down cleanup that the community urgently needs."
