Fireworks Found; Homes Evacuated

Authorities on Thursday removed or detonated more than 1,000 pounds of high-grade fireworks found the day before at a storage yard in Anaheim. Residents who had been evacuated remained away from their homes.

The bomb squad was called Wednesday when an employee inspected the rental unit in the 700 block of East La Palma Avenue and discovered explosives and detected a chemical odor, said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim Police Department.

Investigators found three 40-foot trailers filled with professional-grade fireworks, detonating cord, which is commonly used in movie shoots, and binary explosives, used for mining.

In a series of explosions that were expected to last into Thursday night, they detonated the fireworks considered unstable. The rest are expected to be removed by Saturday, officials said. “It’s a painstaking process,” Martinez said. “There were so much hazards in there.”

Authorities evacuated 12 homes on Pauline Street, and residents in 12 others were given the option of evacuating.

Officials said the storage-yard employee was taking inventory of the items to sell after Robert Helgeson, 49, of Orange, failed to pay rent.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and the Anaheim police are investigating whether Helgeson, a licensed manufacturer of pyrotechnics for the movie industry, violated any laws.

ATF Agent John Torres said Helgeson may be charged with improper storage; he said such a large amount of explosives should be stored in the desert.

Helgeson could not be reached for comment.