The Fourth of July is coming soon, and that means fireworks for some areas of the country. But they’re illegal in Los Angeles and a recent accident shows the dangers of fireworks quite clearly.
KELO reported that a haul of over 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks exploded during a disposal effort by police. The explosion injured 17 people along with cars and buildings.
At least nine LAPD officers, one ATF agent, and six civilians were hurt in the blast. All but one had to go to the hospital for injuries. Thankfully, no one died at the scene.
The fireworks were part of a sweep done by LAPD to collect illegal fireworks. Bomb squad officers were in the middle of confiscating the large cache. The explosion happened inside the bomb squad trailer.
The blast was triggered when police tried to safely detonate a smaller portion of the explosive devices. The trailer was blown apart with enough force to overturn parked cars and set off alarms.
Fire investigators are inspecting damaged buildings to see if they’re safe for residents and businesses. Mayor Eric Garcetti told Twitter that he was “closely monitoring” the situation and has directed an investigation.
We are glad that everyone survived, but this blast shows how dangerous fireworks can be. Even a small firework can cause injury or start a fire. If you wish to enjoy fireworks this holiday, watch a professional show.
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