A 17-year-old boy has died following a horrific fireworks explosion in his own back garden in Los Angeles, with neighbours describing a deafening blast that sounded "like a bomb".
Neighbours Stunned by Late-Night Explosion
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday night at approximately 9:30pm local time in the Vermont Knolls neighbourhood of southern Los Angeles. Residents were shocked by a sudden, massive "boom" that echoed through the area. Speaking to NBCLA, one neighbour likened the sound to an explosive device, stating it was comparable to a bomb detonating.
Emergency services, including officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, rushed to the scene on the 400 block of W. 84th Street, located west of the 110 Freeway. Upon arrival, they discovered the teenage victim severely burned and ablaze. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Illegal Homemade Fireworks Suspected
According to police investigators, the teenager had been "manipulating pyrotechnic materials" in his garden when they catastrophically exploded. The subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of "a large quantity of illegal pyrotechnic devices" at the location.
The LAPD Bomb Squad was dispatched to secure the scene. Authorities confirmed that all discovered explosives were moved to a safe storage location and that there are no ongoing public safety concerns for the community.
It is illegal to buy, sell, or use fireworks in the city of Los Angeles. Police suspect the devices involved may have been homemade. The Mirror US reported that the boy's relatives were unaware he possessed any fireworks or that he was experimenting with them in the garden.
A Community in Mourning and a Wider Warning
Community activist Najee Ali, speaking to ABC News, expressed a mixture of grief and frustration. "We see fireworks shot up in this neighbourhood quite often," Ali said, highlighting the persistent issue of illegal pyrotechnics. "Where are these children getting these illegal fireworks to begin with, but it's sadness, shock and anger because this young teenager died unnecessarily."
While fireworks-related deaths in the United States are relatively few, they represent a severe and persistent danger linked to misuse and malfunction. Data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows:
- 11 deaths in 2024
- 8 deaths in 2023
- Approximately 13-15 deaths in 2021-2022
These figures underscore that while thousands of injuries occur annually, fatalities remain a significant risk. This tragic event in Los Angeles serves as a stark and sombre reminder of the potentially deadly consequences of illegal firework use.
