Caption: Via Care’s Community Access Team were among the first medical responders supporting residents following the Lineage fire.
When the Lineage fire impacted families and residents in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles with smoke, thousands of residents were left concerned about their well-being and where to turn to for help. Within hours Via Care was one of the first healthcare providers on-the-ground providing direct support to our community with critical health services and essential resources to residents who otherwise would have nowhere to turn. As a community health center committed to serving those most in need, we mobilized our teams, leveraged partnerships, and worked alongside local leaders to ensure residents had access to care and support during a challenging time.
Bringing Care Directly to the Community
Our response began on Monday, June 22, and continued throughout the following weeks as community needs evolved. As one of the first medical teams on the scene, Via Care deployed its Community Access Team and mobile health unit to provide critical support to families impacted by the fire and resulting air quality concerns.
Working in coordination with Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, our team was onsite delivering free health screenings, distributing essential supplies, providing health education, and connecting residents to medical care and social services. By meeting community members where they were, we helped ensure that those most affected had access to timely resources and support during a period of uncertainty.
Caption: Demetrio Cardenas, PA-C, DMSc, MPH, Chief Medical Officer and Family Medicine Provider for Via Care, providing a breathing treatment and checking the lungs of a local resident.
Caption: Demetrio Cardenas, PA-C, DMSc, MPH, conducting a health screening for a young child.
Caption: Via Care staff distributing masks and resources for local residents.
Caption: Supervisor Hilda Solis’ team providing critical resources to residents affected by the fire.
Throughout the response, Via Care’s Mobile Health Unit became an important point of access for residents seeking assistance. Over the course of our deployment, we served more than 350 community members, providing direct care, resources, referrals, and support to help families navigate the immediate and ongoing impacts of the fire.
As part of these outreach efforts, our team also visited Nueva Maravilla Public Housing, a local senior housing community, to check on residents who may have been especially vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality. Via Care staff provided health screenings, distributed protective masks, and connected seniors with information and resources to help safeguard their health during the fire response and recovery period.
Caption: Demetrio Cardenas, PA-C, DMSc, MPH, checking the lungs of a senior man from Nueva Maravilla public housing community.
Caption: Demetrio Cardenas, PA-C, DMSc, MPH, providing a health screening to a senior woman from Nueva Maravilla public housing community.
Our ability to reach so many residents reflects both the urgency of the need and our commitment to bringing healthcare beyond clinic walls and directly into the communities we serve. Throughout the response, our staff remained dedicated to addressing immediate concerns while helping families access the resources necessary for recovery, demonstrating the power of community-centered care during times of crisis.
Supporting Families Through Air Purifier Distribution
As concerns about air quality persisted following the Lineage fire, Via Care continued to identify ways to support the health and well-being of local residents. On Thursday, July 2, we hosted an Air Purifier Distribution Event at one of our community clinics, providing much-needed resources to families affected by smoke and environmental hazards.
Caption: Via Care staff distributing air purifiers to patients who live in the affected area.
Caption: Via Care summer interns assisting with the distribution of air purifiers.
Through this effort, more than 200 patients and community members received air purifiers to help improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to harmful airborne particles. The event was part of our broader commitment to addressing both the immediate and ongoing health impacts experienced by Boyle Heights residents in the wake of the fire.
This distribution was made possible through the generosity of L.A. Care Health Plan, Baby2Baby, and the City of Los Angeles, whose donations helped ensure that vulnerable families had access to tools that support healthier home environments. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to protecting the health of our community.
Caption: A Via Care patient receiving her free air purifier from our distribution event.
Thank You to Our Community Champions
Community recovery requires strong partnerships and dedicated leadership. We extend our sincere gratitude to Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Jimmy Gomez for their support and commitment to the health and well-being of our communities.
Their presence, advocacy, and engagement helped bring attention to the needs of Boyle Heights residents and reinforced the importance of ensuring that impacted families received the resources and support they deserved. We are grateful for their partnership and leadership throughout this response effort.
Caption: Supervisor Hilda Solis and leaders from Via Care presenting the available services at the resource distribution event to residents.
Caption: Supervisor Hilda Solis with Via Care staff at a resource distribution event.
Thank You to Our Generous Partners
The success of our response would not have been possible without the incredible support of our partners and donors. Their generosity enabled Via Care to provide immediate relief, expand outreach efforts, and sustain critical services throughout the response.
We are especially grateful to Direct Relief, L.A. Care Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente, and CCALAC for donating essential supplies that supported community recovery efforts. We also thank Direct Relief, California Community Foundation, and Health Net for providing grant funding that helped support relief operations and the continued deployment of our Mobile Health Unit.
Caption: A local resident receiving resources from Via Care and Direct Relief.
In addition, L.A. Care Health Plan, Baby2Baby, and the City of Los Angeles donated air purifiers that were distributed to more than 200 local patients and community members through Via Care’s July 2 air purifier distribution event. Their support helped families reduce exposure to poor air quality and breathe easier during the aftermath of the fire.
Caption: A Via Care patient receiving an air purifier.
These contributions allowed Via Care to respond quickly, effectively, and compassionately to the evolving needs of Boyle Heights residents, ensuring that critical resources reached the community when they were needed most.
Media Coverage of Via Care’s Response
As one of the first healthcare providers on the ground supporting residents affected by the Lineage fire, Via Care’s response efforts received coverage across multiple local and regional news outlets. We are grateful for the opportunity to elevate community needs and share important health resources with residents throughout the recovery effort.
Coverage included:
- NBC Los Angeles: Boyle Heights Resources Following Warehouse Fire
- FOX 11 News
- CBS Los Angeles
- KNX Morning News Radio
- LiveNOW from FOX
- West Coast Wrap
This media attention helped raise awareness about available health services, resource distribution events, and the ongoing support available to families impacted by the fire.
Moving Forward Together
Caption: Via Care staff providing resources to our community.
Caption: Via Care leadership and medical team out in the field providing support to our community.
Caption: Via Care staff with Xavier Becerra and Supervisor Hilda Solis.
The Lineage fire demonstrated both the challenges our community faces and the tremendous power of collaboration. We are proud of the work accomplished by our staff, volunteers, partners, and local leaders, and we remain committed to supporting Boyle Heights residents as recovery continues.
To everyone who contributed their time, resources, expertise, and compassion—thank you. Together, we demonstrated what is possible when healthcare organizations, community partners, elected officials, and residents come together in service of one another. As we move forward, Via Care remains dedicated to improving health outcomes, responding to community needs, and ensuring that our neighbors have the support they need to recover and thrive.
Support Our Work
Via Care’s ability to respond quickly during emergencies like the Lineage fire is only possible because of the generous support of our donors, partners, and community members. Your contribution helps us provide essential healthcare services, deploy our Mobile Health Unit, distribute critical resources, and ensure vulnerable families receive the care they need when they need it most.
Please consider making a donation today to support Via Care’s mission and help us continue serving our community during times of crisis and beyond.
Donate here: https://www.viacarela.org/support-us/donate