New mobile health clinic launches in Boyle Heights for residents affected by warehouse fire

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES -- A new mobile health clinic has launched in Boyle Heights to provide medical services to residents affected by the warehouse fire, as some community members continue to report health concerns tied to the incident.

Residents told Eyewitness News they are still experiencing symptoms including burning eyes, coughs and sore throats.

Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero, which has served the community for about 20 years, unveiled its new mobile clinic Wednesday. Shortly after a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the clinic began serving residents in Boyle Heights.

The mobile clinic will operate Monday through Saturday and offer primary care, preventive care, lab testing and dental services. Officials said the clinic is intended to improve access to care by bringing services directly into the community.

"We're open for anybody that wants to walk in to get checked, but we're mainly focusing on patients with breathing issues," said Antonio Herrera with Clínica Romero.

Guadalupe Ardenes said she is concerned about her lungs and has experienced burning eyes amid what she described as an ongoing smell of rotting food.

She said she is grateful the mobile clinic is available while cleanup efforts continue at the Lineage warehouse.

Bass said the company has 45 days to determine how it will assist and compensate residents and public agencies for fire damage and environmental impacts. She said the company also has until next week to present a comprehensive cleanup plan.

When asked why food removal and cleanup operations are not taking place around the clock, Bass said that was a matter for the company to determine.

Bass also addressed questions about why residents were not evacuated when the fire began. She said Los Angeles County Public Health told her that a shelter-in-place order was all that was needed. According to Bass, evacuation centers were also made available to residents who chose to leave their homes.