Truckloads of illegal fireworks found in South L.A., prompting evacuations

Los Angeles Police found truckloads of illegal fireworks near the 100 block of East 85th Street while investigating a domestic violence call. Detectives discovered a large cache inside a residence, with every room filled with boxes of fireworks. The bomb squad was dispatched, and the fireworks were removed by multiple trucks, with at least three trucks filled and a fourth still being loaded. Evacuations were ordered shortly after 6 a.m. and later scaled back in the early afternoon. Fireworks were set to be handed over to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for disposal. Police evacuated residents out of caution due to past incidents involving illegal fireworks causing major damage and injuries. A prior 2021 fireworks detonation incident in South Los Angeles caused extensive destruction and significant costs.

"Detectives stumbled upon a very, very large cache of fireworks within the residence. Every room was filled with boxes and boxes of fireworks. Reina said the bomb squad was dispatched to the home and the fireworks were being removed by truck. Reina said at least three trucks had been filled and a fourth was still being loaded. "There's boxes and boxes of this," Reina said."

"The fireworks are set to be handed over to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for disposal, Reina said. Evacuations were ordered in the area shortly after 6 a.m., but were being "scaled back" as of the early afternoon, according to LAPD Capt. Michael Bland, the department's public information officer. Police officials could not immediately confirm the scope of the evacuations, or how many residents were affected."

""We evacuated out of an abundance of caution," Bland said. "There have been countless incidents of homes being destroyed and limbs lost due to illegal fireworks and we are doing our best to prevent that." In June 2021, the LAPD bomb squad botched the detonation of a cache of seized fireworks in the 700 block of East 27th Street in South L.A. - leveling part of a city block, destroying dozens of homes and costing the city millions in lawsuit payouts."

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