CBS Information investigation finds lack of legislation enforcement motion regardless of hundreds of fireworks-related calls throughout Los Angeles

A CBS Information California Investigation discovered knowledge from the Los Angeles Fireplace Division displaying that lots of of fires had been ignited by unlawful fireworks throughout Los Angeles in 2025, in addition to the shortage of motion taken by legislation enforcement after they had been referred to as for the harmful pyrotechnics. 

In July, only a day earlier than Independence Day, six properties had been burned, and one individual died when an explosive fireworks-related hearth erupted in a Pacoima neighborhood. 

Neighbors say that they had made a number of calls to native legislation enforcement over time, reporting the house the place the fireplace broke out, claiming that they used to promote fireworks from the storage. 

“Everybody is aware of,” stated Gabriel Soza, who lives close by and witnessed the harmful inferno in July. “They at all times referred to as the police yearly, and so they by no means come.”

Simply 4 months earlier, and fewer than two miles away, one other Pacoima residence was additionally destroyed when a cache of unlawful fireworks exploded. In that occasion, one individual was hospitalized in vital situation with burns to greater than 50% of their physique, police stated. 

Residents in that neighborhood stated that that they had referred to as on police to report the house as early as three years earlier than it exploded. 

“I have to’ve referred to as at the least 5 to twenty to 30 occasions — I misplaced rely,” stated Luis Medrano, who lives close to the place the fireplace occurred. “They did not care.”

Paperwork obtained by CBS Information California Investigates present that the LAPD acquired greater than 90 completely different 911 calls about fireworks on the residence on Remington Avenue. Neighbors say the shortage of response from police till after the fireplace occurred exhibits they weren’t a precedence, regardless of claims that their neighborhood was of utmost significance throughout a information convention the day of the explosion. 

“I used to be pissed off,” Medrano stated. “They by no means responded.”

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell says that most of the time, the fireworks have already stopped by the point officers reply to calls. Nonetheless, he additionally admitted that the division’s response to fireworks-related calls is a long-standing downside. 

“You get fireworks calls on a regular basis. … A variety of the calls do not get dispatched, they put out for info solely due to the sheer quantity of calls,” McDonnell stated. 

LAPD’s personal numbers present the amount of calls is within the lots of 12 months over 12 months, whereas CBS Information’ investigative evaluation of fireplace knowledge exhibits that these calls resulted in 226 fires throughout Los Angeles in 2025, with lots of of different fires in earlier years as effectively, courting again to at the least 2020. 

Throughout that five-year span, throughout which there have been 722 fireworks-related fires and practically 3,500 emergency calls, the LAPD issued citations or made arrests solely 12 occasions. 

When requested to touch upon the info, McDonnell admitted that fireworks calls aren’t high-priority for the LAPD. 

He says that underneath his command, that is one thing that should change, particularly after his personal officers are actually falling sufferer. Newly obtained and unique physique digital camera video exhibits fireworks being launched instantly at LAPD officers within the midst of an immigration rally in downtown Los Angeles. Different footage exhibits the demonstrators utilizing fireworks to booby-trap a barricade. 

McDonnell says it is a problem that has gotten out of hand, leading to dozens of accidents to LAPD officers. 

“Something from ear to eye accidents,” he stated. “Twenty-six officers being put out of motion due to fireworks being shot at them.”

Riverside police say that this is likely one of the causes that they launched their fireworks drone program final 12 months, geared toward recognizing fireworks from the sky and saving officers from being despatched on the bottom. The drones document the unlawful actions and pinpoint them to a sure property, the place the quotation is shipped. 

“It is safer for everyone,” stated Riverside Police Division Officer Victor Schmitz. 

Of their first 12 months, Riverside police issued 65 citations by means of their drone program, 5 occasions as many because the LAPD has written within the final 5 years. 

McDonnell stated that the LAPD is now testing its personal drone program, however on the similar time, they’re additionally attempting to rent officers since they’re down roughly 1,400 from the place they need to be. 

“I might like it to be the next precedence. If we had extra officers, it will be a excessive precedence,” McDonnell stated. 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass not too long ago submitted a funding proposal to the Metropolis Council searching for $4.4 million to rent extra officers, however the $1 million permitted finances fell effectively wanting that purpose. McDonnell says the brand new hires are essential, particularly with high-profile occasions just like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Video games heading to L.A. within the coming years.