By Mary O’KEEFE

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman held a press conference to highlight how dangerous illegal fireworks are during Fourth of July celebrations. 

Hochman said he loved fireworks as a kid and couldn’t wait for Independence Day. 

“You would go down to the beach or some of the parks that would have these fireworks celebrations,” he said. He added it was exciting, especially at the end when there would be a final spectacular blast of fireworks. 

“I thought it was the greatest thing in the whole world – but here’s the problem. People are going beyond just enjoying legitimately lit fireworks displays,” he said. “They are going ahead and they are engaging in illegal fireworks and explosives at a level in this country that is absolutely unfathomable and incredibly dangerous.”

At a press conference on Tuesday he shared data and stories of recent cases he dealt with since he has taken on the role of DA. The press conference was held in Jefferson Park where in May a fire ignited in the garage of a home triggering a series of fatal fireworks explosions. 

“Just a month and a half ago we had a situation in this neighborhood where illegal fireworks exploded in an ADU attached to a garage and the individual who was involved with those illegal fireworks – Javier Acosta, 26 – ended up dying,” he said. “In January of this year two brothers – ages 24 and 13 in Bell Gardens – were dealing with illegal fireworks and illegal explosives devices.”

The incident in Bell Gardens occurred in an apartment and investigators found the blast was cause by power used to assemble homemade explosives and fireworks. 

“It was believed the older brother was assembling illegal fireworks at that moment,” he said. “Last July, in Tacoma, a massive, illegal, commercial-grade fireworks explosion killed one man, critically injured a woman, and destroyed and displaced 19 people from the neighborhood. [It] took down their houses and injured a whole variety of animals in the process.”

Hochman added that these were just some of the examples of what he called a “preventable crime.” 

“There are many situation in our society where the harm that’s going to happen we just can’t prevent. That is just life – but when it comes to dying or being gravely injured from illegal fireworks, that is something each and every one of us can prevent,” he said. 

He added that the DA’s office will prosecute the people who make illegal fireworks, “people who sell these illegal fireworks, the people who buy these illegal fireworks and the people who light these illegal fireworks.”

“Make, sell, buy, light. It’s all a crime. And we’re going to prosecute everyone, because it literally is about saving lives in the process,” he said. He then shared what his office has found recently regarding illegal fireworks. 

“Yesterday, we filed charges against four individuals involving 8,500 pounds of commercial fireworks that were seized from a storage facility in East Los Angeles,” he said. “8,500 pounds of illegal fireworks is enough to take down not just that storage site but the entire block if they were to have gone off.”

He added that each of the individuals who were arrested for those illegal fireworks would face over 17 years in jail if convicted. 

“We have a case back in May of this year where authorities seized 37,000 pounds of commercially manufactured fireworks at a residence involving four individuals who are each looking at years in state prison,” he said. He added that 37,000 pounds of illegal fireworks would destroy multiple buildings and cause grave bodily injury and fatalities. 

In June 2024, authorities found 150,000 pounds of illegal fireworks at a facility in Gardena. Hochman said the some of the people who are collecting, and hiding, the illegal fireworks are not doing it for the thrill of lighting them off but as a business. Those who sell will be dealt with by the DA’s office; however, he said his office will also deal with those who light them. 

Illegal fireworks seem to begin before, and continue after, the Fourth of July. 

“Every one of you who are lighting an illegal firework – you are committing a crime,” he said. 

He added in many areas law enforcement is using drones to identify where illegal fireworks are taking place. 

Firefighters and law enforcement at the conference agreed with Hochman and shared their personal stories of responding to fires caused by illegal fireworks. 

Anyone who sees illegal fireworks or knows of someone who is storing illegal fireworks is asked to make a report. People can call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 to make a report anonymously. Anonymous reports can also be made at www.lacrimestoppers.org. People can also go to the WeTip hotline, which is www.wetip.com, and anonymously report people engaged in illegal fireworks. 

It is also suggested for those who want to see fireworks to go to legal, organized shows like the Crescenta Valley Fireworks display at Crescenta Valley High School. 

CVW also wants to add that those in high fire risk areas along the foothills and throughout areas like Crescenta Valley, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Sunland-Tujunga and Burbank should be especially cautious about illegal fireworks, which can quickly cause a devastating fire.