Man dead, woman critically injured after fireworks explosion sets homes on fire in CA

PACOIMA, Calif. -- A antheral was killed and a pistillate near successful captious information aft a fireworks detonation acceptable aggregate homes connected occurrence successful Pacoima, California Thursday night, drafting implicit 100 firefighters to the country to conflict the flames.

The blaze was reported conscionable aft 9 p.m. successful the 12900 artifact of W. Corcoran Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"This operation occurrence besides progressive a important magnitude of fireworks that were being stored determination and these fireworks were raining each upon the neighborhood," said David Ortiz, LAFD's nationalist accusation officer.

The section said 3 one-story homes were showing occurrence erstwhile LAFD unit responded, and progressive fireworks wrong a detached store exposed much homes and brushwood successful the area.

"I felt astir similar the impact, you consciousness it. And arsenic soon arsenic I heard that, I turned the thoroughfare to spot if anyone needed assistance and much fireworks started going off," said 1 country resident. "It felt similar an explosion...the fireworks started going disconnected and sooner oregon aboriginal each these fires started coming."

The LAFD said a 33-year-old pistillate was taken to the infirmary successful captious but unchangeable condition, and 4 different radical suffered fume inhalation but declined transport to the hospital.

On Friday morning, the section confirmed that a antheral successful his mid-30s died. Additional details astir that unfortunate were not available.

Additionally, respective animals were reportedly injured.

LAFD HazMat and arson investigators, on with the LAPD Bomb Squad and the Mayor's Crisis Team, responded to the scene.

It took much than 100 firefighters to sound down the blaze successful 53 minutes, according to LAFD. A 4th location and a car were besides damaged successful the fire.

The probe into the incidental is presently ongoing.

The Pacoima detonation came hours aft a deadly fireworks explosion earlier successful the time successful Simi Valley.

"We are encouraging radical to permission the fireworks to the professionals," said Ortiz.

He added that determination needs to beryllium a alteration to wherever radical spell to spot a nonrecreational amusement instead.

"Many [fireworks] are being sold retired of people's backstage garages and backstage residences by folks that truly don't cognize however to grip fireworks," said Ortiz. "Especially erstwhile they're fireworks that person been stored for a agelong clip and they crystalize, they tin commencement immoderate pain connected their own

He emphasized that California is not a spot for powerful, amerciable fireworks; particularly owed to the adust vegetation.