Firefighters across Los Angeles County received an increased number of calls after the Fourth of July celebrations, as illegal fireworks ignited wildfires, setting trees and cars on fire and injuring people.
Firefighters across Los Angeles County faced increased calls following the Fourth of July celebrations as illegal fireworks ignited wildfires, setting trees and cars on fire and injuring people.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said that as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, dispatchers had received more than 2,000 calls compared with about 1,700 calls on an average weekday.
Authorities suspect the use of illegal fireworks
In Van Nuys, fire crews were dispatched to the 7500 block of Haskell Avenue for a tree that caught fire. They rushed to put out the flames that were coming from a tree, right next to an apartment building.
“That tree started to burn. That was crazy,” a witness described at the time the fire started. “They were shooting fireworks at each other, so it wasn’t like an accident.”
Video from the location shows some 1,000 pieces of used fireworks scattered in the middle of the street.
Another fireworks-related incident sparked a small wildfire in South Los Angeles.
Footage from the Imperial Highway and S. Broadway area shows a large group of youths running around and illegally launching fireworks randomly in the street. One of the sparks from the pyrotechnics ended up flying into the dry vegetation in the corner.
Footage from the location shows people playing with fireworks fleeing the scene. Firefighters were able to quickly put out the flames.
But at Porter Ranch, illegal fireworks could have sparked a larger wildfire.
Firefighters were dispatched to the area of 11900 Reseda Boulevard after receiving a call about the fire started by a person or people playing with fireworks.
Firefighters were dispatched to the area of 11900 Reseda Boulevard after receiving a call about the fire started by a person or people playing with fireworks.
The LAFD declared it extinct after the wildfire burned a quarter-acre of lawn.
In the Vermont Vista neighborhood of South Los Angeles, a man was injured while handling illegal fireworks.
When firefighters arrived at the scene west of 113th Street near Hoover Street on Tuesday before 11 pm, they found a burn victim with severe facial injuries.
The boy’s parents were taking him to a hospital when they called a police officer to help them.
Neighbors reported that the man had been shooting fireworks for hours before injuring himself. Video from the scene shows fireworks being used on the street alongside the man.
A group of youths were seen fleeing the scene after they launched illegal fireworks in the street, igniting dry vegetation on the corner.
According to the latest report from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 10,000 people were treated for injuries caused by fireworks last year. And 73% of all injuries occurred in the weeks before and after the 4th of July.
The hands and fingers are the most injured body parts of those who mishandle fireworks, according to the same report.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station, NBCLA. Click here to read this story in English.
