Introduction to the Incident
Some San Fernando Valley residents who were ordered to vacate their homes were slowly allowed to return Saturday morning following a controlled burn operation that stemmed from the discovery of illegal fireworks that caused an explosion at a home.
On Thursday, a Pacoima neighborhood was rocked by a home explosion that left a 24-year-old man critically injured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. After discovering there were more illegal explosives on the property, officials decided to detonate the materials through a controlled burn.
Decision Behind the Controlled Burn
Guy Tomlinson, LAFD Assistant Chief, said the decision to go that route was made because the home no longer had integrity, as he described it.
“As you saw in the initial explosion, the building had collapsed in on itself, so it wasn’t safe to actually be inside of it,” he said. “The materials that were stored in there were all illegal … So the safest way to handle it was to initiate a control burn and let it burn all the way off.”
Evacuation and Return
A little more than 60 homes were under an evacuation order, frustrating community members. On Saturday morning, officials were allowing some residents to return to their homes and they reopened some streets.
Although the controlled burn has been completed, work for officials on the matter will carry on.
Dozens of families were evacuated out of their homes in Pacoima on Thursday in preparation of controlled burn of explosives by authorities. Eliana Moreno reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on March 21, 2025.
Ongoing Safety Measures
“The continued steps are air monitoring, making sure the community’s still safe,” Tomlinson said. “Since midnight last night, the air sampling has been all back to normal range.”
He explained the burn that was seen Saturday morning was to control runoff from hazardous materials that could have mixed with water coming from the property.
“We did not apply any water to the structure, so there is no hazardous water in that runoff as of yet,” Tomlinson said. “So, we’re protecting the storm drain system and then we’re also controlling where that water could go so we don’t have any additional hazardous materials or any issues down range from the incident.”
Future Steps and Investigations
It’s unclear when all residents will be able to return to their homes.
Law enforcement may preserve the home where the explosives were stored for future investigations or possible criminal charges. Police said the man could potentially face criminal charges.
Conclusion
The Pacoima neighborhood has faced a significant disruption due to the home explosion and subsequent controlled burn. While some residents have been allowed to return home, the community remains under scrutiny as officials continue to monitor the air quality and investigate the source of the illegal explosives. The incident highlights the importance of community safety and the need for vigilance in preventing such incidents in the future.
FAQs
- Q: What caused the home explosion in Pacoima?
A: The explosion was caused by illegal fireworks stored in the home. - Q: How many homes were evacuated?
A: More than 60 homes were under an evacuation order. - Q: What is the current status of the air quality in the area?
A: According to officials, the air sampling has been back to normal range since midnight after the controlled burn. - Q: Will the resident who stored the explosives face charges?
A: Yes, the man could potentially face criminal charges, and the home may be preserved for future investigations.
