Woman killed, several injured in Fourth of July fireworks incidents across SoCal
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Firefighters battled a number of blazes across the Southland that damaged buildings and caused one death and several injuries over the Fourth of July holiday.
An unidentified woman died, and three others, including a child, suffered severe injuries after a vehicle exploded about 8:30 p.m. Saturday on the 5600 block of D Street in Chino and engulfed a second car in flames, according to a police news release.
According to the preliminary investigation, detectives said that they believed a “large quantity of fireworks ignited, causing the explosion.”
Derion Tradon James Jr., a 28-year-old Hesperia resident, was detained during the investigation and later booked at the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, according to the Chino Police Department.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered that an explosion had occurred and several people had been injured.” The responding officers rendered first aid to the victims before they were taken to local hospitals.
The two other injured adults are expected to survive. The child was later released after a medical evaluation.
The incident remains under investigation.
It was one of several fires that erupted as Los Angeles celebrated the Fourth of July.
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after a fire burned multiple cars in a parking lot in Wilmington, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The fire began at an apartment building on the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway around 8:38 p.m. Friday.
The Fire Department found “what appeared to be potentially dangerous explosives/fireworks” nearby.
An LAPD Bomb Squad assessment determined that the explosive material found next to the vehicles involved was “commercial grade fireworks.”
A nearby hotel and a two-story single-family dwelling were evacuated, displacing 10 adults and two children.
On Sunday, shortly after 1 a.m., firefighters contained a commercial building that went up in flames on the 14300 block of Figueroa Street in the Harbor Gateway neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
More than 70 firefighters responded to the scene near the 110 Freeway at Figueroa Street and Rosecrans Avenue before 10 p.m. on Saturday.
No injuries were reported, and the fire remains under investigation by arson investigators.
In Mission Hills, firefighters put out a blaze after several cypress trees caught fire, torching two vehicles and raging close to homes, after 9 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
There were no reported injuries.
In La Habra, a two-alarm fire broke out in a commercial building on South Monte Vista Street on Saturday night, threatening other buildings, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
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