Authorities said more than 130 firefighters fought a fire in the blast of fireworks that engulfed four homes in Pacoma and seriously injured a woman Thursday night.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to three burning one-story houses in the 12933 W. Corcoran St. area, where fireworks exploded upon arrival, exposing surrounding houses and brushing their teeth to create a risk of ignition.
According to LAFD, firefighters began attacking the fire in defense mode, garrisoning from safe distances to prioritize the safety of the crew, making it comparable to other potentials of explosions.
At 9:30 p.m., the fire department declared the fire a “major state of emergency” and said a 33-year-old woman was taken to a seriously ill hospital. An injured dog was also taken to an emergency veterinary hospital.
According to the fire department, firefighters hit the fire at 10 p.m. and arrived at the fire department, it had spread to the fourth and the car. Several animals were reportedly injured in the fire and a 68-year-old woman refused to transport them to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
According to LAFD, a gas company has been asked to respond to gas leaks in one of the houses, and the Department of Water and Electricity in Los Angeles has been asked to manage wires that hit the line along the back of the first three houses.
Fire department arson and Hazmat team were dispatched to the incident, and Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad was also dispatched to the incident. The mayor's crisis team was sent to an extinct fire to provide counseling and resources to affected residents.
Animal control is asked to respond to the incident. The Red Cross and the Department of Building and Security in Los Angeles were also eavesdropped to assist in the fire.
The fireworks explosion was one of several similar incidents reported by the state during its July 4 advance.
A similar incident suffered serious injuries in a home in the Bay Area residence, and officials suspected fireworks were being made when an explosion Thursday morning killed a man in a house in the Simi Valley.
Additionally, seven workers remain missing Tuesday night after a massive explosion swallowed a warehouse in a rural area outside Sacramento.
LAFD released a message earlier this week reminding residents that all fireworks are illegal in the city of Los Angeles and urged people not to hold personal fireworks shows to celebrate the holiday.
The department released on X following the fire held in Pacoima Thursday night. “The most direct way to make fireworks inert is to immerse them in water. Take care of your loved ones, pets and neighbors in a hurry.”
