Illegal fireworks may have caused blaze that burned warehouses in Florence area

A blaze in the Florence area that injured four firefighters and caused more than $1 million in damage, may have been sparked by illegal fireworks, according to reports being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Three warehouses were damaged in the fire, which began about 9:40 p.m. Saturday in the 7500 block of Maie Avenue in unincorporated South Los Angeles. It took more than 80 Los Angeles County firefighters about four hours to knock down the blaze, Dispatch Supervisor Rey Dong said.

Damage to the warehouses is estimated at between $1 million and $3 million.

Witnesses told investigators that a group of males was shooting fireworks toward mattresses outside one of the warehouses, Deputy Amber Smith said.

Fireworks debris was found at the scene by investigators with the sheriff’s arson explosives detail.

Smith said no suspects have been identified in the ongoing investigation.

The injured firefighters were treated and released at the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (323) 881-7500.
Anonymous tips can be made at (800) 222-8477.

Twitter: @zahiratorres

Twitter: @zahiratorres