Multiple smartphone videos captured the harrowing moments when an illegal supply of fireworks triggered a massive, deadly explosion in a Southern California neighborhood.
My mom got it on tape 😳 https://t.co/6QWgCPrMKz— damian_1027 (@damian_1027) 1615926948.0
BuzzFeed News reported the explosion originated in a residential home in the city of Ontario, California around 12:30pm Tuesday afternoon.
My mom got it on tape 😳 https://t.co/6QWgCPrMKz— damian_1027 (@damian_1027) 1615926948.0
According to Ontario Fire Chief Ray Gayk, who spoke in a press briefing following the incident, the blast killed two people.
The mother of 38-year-old Alex Paez told ABC7 on Wednesday her son and his cousin, 20-year-old Cesar Paez, were the deceased victims.
This is the terrifying moment when according to officials w/City of #Ontario explosions from a home filled with ill… https://t.co/V9q6gnkt48— Jessica De Nova (@Jessica De Nova) 1615934773.0
Gayk recounted around 12:30pm multiple local residents called and notified the department of explosions in their neighborhood.
When fire officials arrived at the scene, the home was still shrouded in flames and additional explosions continued to erupt.
Gayk shared his initial assessment with reporters.
"It was very evident that we had a lot of commercial-grade fireworks that were going off. We don't know right now where they came from [or] what was going on in the house."
Firefighters got to work evacuating nearby residents, people in the home that exploded and even freed a horse from the rubble.
VIDEO: Firefighters worked to free a horse and other animals located near an Ontario house where a large explosion… https://t.co/u76lVvRc3V— CBS Los Angeles (@CBS Los Angeles) 1615926658.0
Even with the continued efforts of the firefighters, the flames at the home raged on into the nighttime.
From above in #Sky9, you can see why @OntarioFireDept is having trouble securing the site of the explosion.… https://t.co/mmdufnzmu6— CBSLA Assignment Desk (@CBSLA Assignment Desk) 1615951189.0
Ontario Police Chief Mike Lorenz also shared although the fire has been put out, there is far more work to still be done in response to the deadly incident.
"Due to the large explosion, it would be at minimum investigating a felony or several felonies that would be involved."
"Depending on what cache of fireworks or explosive material they had in there, we'll direct the investigation where it goes."
People who saw videos of the blast were absolutely stunned.
@Prudencepms Man, sucks, but the raw power is amazing to hear.— Ser Mrb (@Ser Mrb) 1615924300.0
@abc7jessica @ABC7 So scary— Shann (@Shann) 1615939216.0
@abc7jessica @ABC7 This is so sad though I am actually surprised this didn't happen sooner. It's been fireworks dai… https://t.co/3YN1v2DRQD— The_Julerz (@The_Julerz) 1615942427.0
@PhilipPisanchyn @damian_r24 You're right that was perfect eyewitness video. https://t.co/CAdBwmfGcv— BarakaFlockaFlame (@BarakaFlockaFlame) 1615930881.0
Some people who live around the site of the blast shared their own experiences.
@damian_r24 Damn! I live like 10 minutes from there and at first we thought it was an earthquake. Or a plane crashi… https://t.co/N3p9iSBrUF— duranyorker (@duranyorker) 1615930351.0
@damian_r24 Fireworks in Ontario CA, I just work at a school and the windows rattled— dodgers8801 (@dodgers8801) 1615931001.0
@abc7jessica @ABC7 My house got its damn windows broken cuz of the explosion and we were about a block away! My bro… https://t.co/NK6D6YcAO3— PhazonArcanine4 (@PhazonArcanine4) 1615936650.0
As Chief Lorenz went on to tell reporters, it will take some time to clear all the rubble from a blast so big.
With summer not far away and home-made fireworks displays ramping up in the coming months, we hope the right precautions are taken to avoid any more catastrophes like this one.
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