1 person killed in California house fire after fireworks explode in garage
The fire erupted in the garage and spread to the attic and main areas of the home in Simi Valley, California, part of Ventura County about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, officials said.
The Ventura County Fire Department and Simi Valley Police Department responded to the fire at the residence at about 11:48 a.m. on July 3. Calls reported what sounded like a large explosion followed by a series of smaller ones, said Simi Valley police Sgt. Rick Morton. When the first police supervisor arrived at 12:08 p.m., he could still hear small explosions.
The garage and attic were fully engulfed in flames and the roof had collapsed, Morton said.
"The explosions were determined to be fireworks," the Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement.
Firefighters on the scene issued a second alarm as the flames spread, officials said on social media.
"I was in bed and woke up when I heard the explosion," said Wilfredo Aceves-Velasquez, 25, who lives nearby on Hudspeth Avenue.
Are fireworks safe? Fireworks needlessly destroy fingers, hands and lives every year, doctors say
By 1:45 p.m., caution tape closed off portions of Edmund Street where fire engines and utility trucks parked along the roadway. The home's garage door was blown from its hinges and could be seen near the curb across the street.
At the scene, Scott Thomsen, county fire spokesman, confirmed the explosion. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Fireworks, which are illegal in Simi Valley, were found in the garage and in a truck in the driveway. Investigators have not yet confirmed what started the fire, Morton said.
Police said the person killed was an adult male but did not release his identity.
A mother and an adult son reportedly live in the residence. The mother was at work when the explosion occurred, Morton said. She returned home as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, he said.
Another fireworks explosion sparked huge fire
Over 400 miles away from Simi Valley in the northern part of the state, another explosion at a fireworks factory sparked a fire earlier in the week, authorities there said.
The factory exploded on July 1 in Yolo County northwest of Sacramento shortly after 6 p.m. The blast caused fires at several nearby structures and the fire spread to 78 acres. It was 60% contained as of July 4, according to CalFire. Video of that explosion showed a fire and huge plume of smoke with fireworks continuously going off within the smoke.
The fire and explosion prompted evacuation orders and crews worked to locate seven people unaccounted for.
Fireworks kill and injure Americans every year
Last year, 11 Americans died from fireworks injuries and more than 14,700 were treated in emergency rooms, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries include burns to the hands and fingers or head, face and ears in more than one-third of cases.
"These are effectively bombs people are holding in their hands," Dr. Nicolas Lee, a professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at the University of California San Francisco who directs a hand reconstruction program, previously told USA TODAY. "We see hands and fingers blown off, groin injuries, facial burns and damage. I've had kids blow off their eyelids so they can't close their eyes."
Experts say following these safety tips can help prevent a life-changing injury or death:
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com.
Contributing: Elizabeth Weise and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
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