Wilmington Structure Fire Involving Fireworks Critically Injures One Patient

LOS ANGELES - Multiple calls reporting fireworks exploding inside a passenger vehicle parked at motel parking lot flooded LAFD dispatch (Metropolitan Fire Communications a.k.a MFC) on July 3, 2026 at 8:38 PM.

The first LAFD resources on scene found two vehicles well involved with fire. After applying foam and knocking the fires down, the fire company found what appeared to be potentially dangerous explosives/fireworks near the vehicle. One adult male victim was found in critical condition with severe trauma, and was quickly extracted from the area due to what appeared to be an explosion.

The hotel was evacuated along with a two-story single-family dwelling next door to the hotel. 10 Adults and 2 Children were initially displaced and assisted by Red Cross. LA Metro provided a bus to transport the evacuated person to a safe location. LAFD Arson, along with an LAPD fireworks detail and LAPD bomb squad responded. The LAPD Bomb Squad did an assessment of the incident and determined that it was commercial grade fireworks that were found on the ground next to the 2 vehicles involved. The Bomb Squad deemed the area safe as both vehicles were towed from the parking lot. All the people that were displaced during the incident were rehoused into the Motel Crescent Inn at 1:45 am. LAPD, LA County Hazmat, LAFD resources, Red Cross, and LA Metro have all cleared the scene.