Landfill hauling of spoiled food from Boyle Heights fire stirs complaints in Simi Valley
Residents in the Big Sky neighborhood of Simi Valley say a persistent, foul odor has lingered for weeks after truckloads of spoiled food from the June 17 fire at a Lineage Logistics cold-storage facility in Boyle Heights were hauled to a Ventura County landfill for disposal.
Neighbors have reported the smell intensifies when afternoon "sundowner" winds sweep through the neighborhood and said they have noticed an increase in flies. The complaints prompted action from the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, which issued a notice of violation to the landfill and said it will continue to monitor conditions and respond to additional complaints.
“It’s really bad. I smell like a fish or something dead … It’s at a point that we are even thinking, like, should we live here?”
The comment came from Big Sky resident Pradepa Nachimuthu, who spoke with ABC7 about the nuisance. Residents also reported contacting the general manager of their homeowners association, who directed them to file complaints with the county air district.
Source and scale of the material
The spoiled material originated roughly 50 miles away at the six-story Lineage Logistics facility in Boyle Heights, where a massive fire destroyed refrigeration and left meat and produce to spoil, according to media reports. Local residents say truckloads of that spoiled food were transported to a landfill that accepts such waste within Ventura County.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Lineage Logistics cold-storage warehouse, Boyle Heights (fire on June 17) |
| Destination | Ventura County landfill near Simi Valley (reported by residents) |
| Community affected | Big Sky neighborhood, Simi Valley |
| Agency responding | Ventura County Air Pollution Control District |
Local impact and response
Residents said the odor has been noticeable for weeks and that the timing of the afternoon winds exacerbates the problem. Beyond discomfort and nuisance, residents expressed concern for quality of life, saying the smell has led some to question whether they should continue living in the area.
- The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District issued a notice of violation to the landfill operator and said it is monitoring the situation.
- Residents were advised to file complaints with the air district; the Big Sky homeowners association general manager has been notified by neighbors.
- The spoiled food was the result of refrigerated loss after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire in Boyle Heights.
The air district’s issuance of a notice of violation indicates regulators found the landfill’s handling of the material did not comply with applicable requirements or that operations created unacceptable nuisance conditions. The district said it will continue to respond to complaints, though it did not publish additional enforcement details in the initial report.
What residents can expect next
Air-quality investigations typically involve on-site inspections, collection of odor and emissions reports, and follow-up enforcement or corrective actions if agencies determine rules were violated. Residents who are experiencing odors or who observe increased vectors such as flies should document times and conditions when the problem occurs and submit those details to the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to assist investigators.
For now, Big Sky residents remain frustrated by the lingering smell and its disruption of daily life. County officials say they are monitoring the issue and will respond to further complaints as they arise.
Contact information and reporting: Residents seeking to report continuing problems should use the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District’s complaint process. The homeowners association has been made aware of the situation and has directed members to the air district.
