Authorities found fireworks at the South Los Angeles property after explosions rocked nearby homes.
LOS ANGELES — A predawn garage fire in Jefferson Park turned deadly Saturday when stored fireworks exploded behind a South Los Angeles home, killing one person, injuring at least one woman and forcing investigators to treat the property as a hazardous scene.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the fire broke out at 5:35 a.m. at 2421 S. 9th Ave. Firefighters arrived to find a detached garage burning heavily while explosions continued. Crews used a defensive attack and declared the fire knocked down at 5:52 a.m., less than 20 minutes after the first dispatch.
The victim was not publicly identified Sunday. Police said a man was found dead at the property after the fire was out. Authorities said they recovered a large amount of fireworks from the site. Investigators had not determined whether the man died in the fire, in an explosion or before the blaze began.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene that began with a boom and quickly grew into a series of blasts. Neighbor Marian Fifi Locke said she ran from her bedroom after the first explosion shook her home. When she opened the door, she said, she saw fireworks and flames. Locke said she tried to reach the tenant but could not get a response.
Another neighbor, Monica Boswell, said the blasts rattled homes nearby and forced her family out. She said she saw fireworks shooting from the garage area and moved her children away from the danger. She later said her dog ran away during the commotion and that her home had damage from the incident.
Fire officials said a 30-year-old woman was evaluated at the scene for an unknown injury. Other footage from the block showed residents with bandages and blood on clothing. Officials did not immediately release a full injury count, and police had not said whether any neighboring homes were unsafe to enter after the explosions.
The blast drew firefighters, Los Angeles police, hazardous materials crews and bomb squad personnel. Police and arson investigators were expected to examine the garage, the home and remaining debris to determine where the fire started and whether someone intentionally set it. Officials had not released the total volume of fireworks found at the property.
The fire renewed concern about illegal fireworks in Los Angeles neighborhoods, where police and firefighters often respond to complaints before and after the Fourth of July. Officials have said fireworks stored or altered in homes can create serious risks for residents, firefighters and nearby properties. Saturday’s blast left neighbors describing a normally quiet block as a scene of smoke, debris and fear.
By Sunday, the cause remained under investigation, the victim’s name had not been released and no charges had been announced. The next official updates were expected from police, fire investigators or the medical examiner as they complete scene work and identification.
Author note: Last updated May 10, 2026.