A man was killed and his wife critically injured after commercial-grade fireworks caused a massive fire that destroyed multiple homes in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, led to a chaotic scene with over 130 firefighters responding to the blaze.
Officials stated that a woman, believed to be the man’s wife, is hospitalized and fighting for her life after the incident, which took place in the Pacoima neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. Emergency crews discovered the man and woman trapped in a home as they were evacuating people in the area. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The fire was reported on Thursday at approximately 9 p.m. and spread to four homes and at least one car. It took nearly an hour for more than 130 firefighters to put out the fire.
During the fire response, the fire department reported a gas leak in one of the homes. The fire also knocked down several power lines, leading to a chaotic situation as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman David Ortiz described the scene as ‘very chaotic,’ noting the presence of exploding fireworks, downed power lines, and a large number of firefighting units responding to the incident. He added that the situation appeared to be similar to a war zone, with fireworks raining down on the neighborhood. Ortiz expressed concern over the increasing number of powerful fireworks being sold in residential areas.
Video footage from the scene showed dozens of fireworks exploding, causing a massive fire. Smaller fires were also ignited by fireworks dropping onto the street. The incident has also led to the discovery of human remains days after a devastating California fireworks facility explosion, according to a separate report. Additionally, seven people are missing following a powerful explosion at a California fireworks facility, with evacuation orders still in place in the area. Four other people and several animals were injured in the fire, including a dog taken to an emergency veterinarian.
Local authorities are investigating the cause of the fireworks explosion and the subsequent fire, which has prompted calls for stricter regulations on the sale and use of commercial-grade fireworks in residential areas. The incident highlights the dangers of illegal fireworks and the potential for such events to cause widespread destruction and casualties.