Fireworks bust: Authorities seize 100,000 kilos of unlawful fireworks from Commerce warehouse

COMMERCE, Calif. (KABC) — A serious bust in Commerce Wednesday morning led to the seizure of greater than 100,000 kilos of unlawful fireworks, officers mentioned.

“That is positively one of many largest seizures that California has seen of fireworks,” mentioned Kara Garrett, Cal Fireplace deputy state hearth marshal.

Cal Fireplace and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the invention once they raided a warehouse within the 3000 block of Tanager Avenue.

Massive rental vehicles lined as much as haul away the fireworks to a secure storage facility.

Investigators say the proprietor on the middle of the investigation is a licensed fireworks importer/exporter, however say they had been storing the harmful explosives illegally.

“That is quite a lot of danger simply in a smaller condensed space so one false transfer, it might simply set the entire thing off,” Garrett mentioned. “It’s totally harmful.”

Pictures from Cal Fireplace present the fireworks stacked flooring to ceiling.

“As we method the 4th of July and a typical enhance in utilization of unlawful fireworks, this seizure ought to be a reminder of our zero tolerance to unlawful fireworks in California,” California State Fireplace Marshal Daniel Berlant mentioned in an announcement.

California has seen greater than $4 million in property loss from fireworks-caused fires since January, in line with Cal Fireplace.

“Fireworks are unlawful in elements of California because of the vital danger they pose, as they trigger extreme accidents and tens of millions of {dollars} in property harm every year,” Cal Fireplace mentioned in an announcement. “Massive grass crops and dry vegetation enhance the specter of devastating fires all through all of California.”