Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Cleanup underway at Southern California fireworks blast site

Experts are burning off unexploded fireworks in a Southern California neighborhood rocked this week by explosions that left two people dead

Via AP news wire
Thursday 18 March 2021 23:44 GMT
California Fireworks Blast
California Fireworks Blast (© 2021, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Experts began burning off unexploded fireworks in a Southern California neighborhood rocked this week by explosions that left two people dead.

Controlled burns began Wednesday evening, and the city of Ontario tweeted that they would continue until all hazardous materials are destroyed.

Regional air quality officials advised that neighborhoods directly downwind might experience unhealthy air quality at times through Thursday.

The explosion of a large cache of fireworks Tuesday rained debris down over a wide area, and dozens of residents were evacuated.

Ontario Police Chief Mike Lorenz said Wednesday that the coroner’s office had not yet identified the bodies found in the backyard of the property where the blasts began.

Two cousins associated with the property were reported missing.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in