California teenager dies in backyard firework explosion

A 17-year-old in South Los Angeles lost his life after a fireworks device he was handling detonated in a residential backyard, according to authorities. The incident occurred in the Vermont Knolls area around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, after neighbors reported hearing an explosion and seeing smoke rising from the property.

The teenager, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reportedly operating the firework when it accidentally went off. Emergency responders found him with life-threatening injuries and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No other individuals were harmed in the accident.

Investigators are working to determine the precise cause of the explosion. Initial reports from the Los Angeles Police Department indicate the incident may have involved either a homemade or high-powered firework malfunction. Authorities discovered a box labeled Cash Game 357, a 357-shot aerial firework known for producing an extended sequence of aerial effects, at the scene, though it is not confirmed if this device triggered the blast. Such fireworks are illegal and highly hazardous under California law.

The bomb squad was deployed to secure the remaining fireworks and debris. Early Thursday morning, around 6 a.m., a controlled detonation was conducted after additional explosive materials were located on the property.

Fireworks-related fatalities are relatively rare but serious, with about five peopleoften minorsdying each year nationwide, and roughly 9,100 individuals requiring hospital treatment due to fireworks injuries, according to safety statistics.

Author: Grace Ellison