Latest news with #SimiValleyPolice
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
1 person killed in California house fire after fireworks explode in garage
One person died in a fire at a California home after fireworks exploded in the garage, police said on July 3. The fire erupted in the garage and spread to the attic and main areas of the home in Simi Valley, California, part of Ventura County about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, officials said. The Ventura County Fire Department and Simi Valley Police Department responded to the fire at the residence at about 11:48 a.m. on July 3. Calls reported what sounded like a large explosion followed by a series of smaller ones, said Simi Valley police Sgt. Rick Morton. When the first police supervisor arrived at 12:08 p.m., he could still hear small explosions. The garage and attic were fully engulfed in flames and the roof had collapsed, Morton said. "The explosions were determined to be fireworks," the Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement. Firefighters on the scene issued a second alarm as the flames spread, officials said on social media. "I was in bed and woke up when I heard the explosion," said Wilfredo Aceves-Velasquez, 25, who lives nearby on Hudspeth Avenue. Are fireworks safe? Fireworks needlessly destroy fingers, hands and lives every year, doctors say By 1:45 p.m., caution tape closed off portions of Edmund Street where fire engines and utility trucks parked along the roadway. The home's garage door was blown from its hinges and could be seen near the curb across the street. At the scene, Scott Thomsen, county fire spokesman, confirmed the explosion. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Fireworks, which are illegal in Simi Valley, were found in the garage and in a truck in the driveway. Investigators have not yet confirmed what started the fire, Morton said. Police said the person killed was an adult male but did not release his identity. A mother and an adult son reportedly live in the residence. The mother was at work when the explosion occurred, Morton said. She returned home as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, he said. Over 400 miles away from Simi Valley in the northern part of the state, another explosion at a fireworks factory sparked a fire earlier in the week, authorities there said. The factory exploded on July 1 in Yolo County northwest of Sacramento shortly after 6 p.m. The blast caused fires at several nearby structures and the fire spread to 78 acres. It was 60% contained as of July 4, according to CalFire. Video of that explosion showed a fire and huge plume of smoke with fireworks continuously going off within the smoke. The fire and explosion prompted evacuation orders and crews worked to locate seven people unaccounted for. Last year, 11 Americans died from fireworks injuries and more than 14,700 were treated in emergency rooms, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries include burns to the hands and fingers or head, face and ears in more than one-third of cases. "These are effectively bombs people are holding in their hands," Dr. Nicolas Lee, a professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at the University of California San Francisco who directs a hand reconstruction program, previously told USA TODAY. "We see hands and fingers blown off, groin injuries, facial burns and damage. I've had kids blow off their eyelids so they can't close their eyes." Experts say following these safety tips can help prevent a life-changing injury or death: Never hold a lit firework in your hands Light fireworks one-at-a-time and then move back quickly Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not gone off Never use fireworks when impaired by alcohol or drugs If you or someone is injured in an explosion, call 911 immediately Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@ Contributing: Elizabeth Weise and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 1 person killed in house fire after fireworks explode in garage
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
1 dead after fireworks explode in garage, setting fire to Cali. house
July 3 (UPI) -- One person in southern California is dead after fireworks stored in a garage exploded on Thursday, setting fire to the house, authorities said. The Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement that emergency crews responded to the residential fire in the 1600 block of Edmund Street, while instructing residents to avoid the area. The identify of the deceased person was not released. Ventura County Fire officials reported that the fire was caused by fireworks in the garage, which then spread to the attic and into the house. "The explosions were determined to be fireworks, which resulted in the death of one person," the Simi Valley Police Department said. "This incident is still under investigation." The Ventura County Fire Department added in a statement that firefighters "continue to work on full extinguishment and overhaul." #EdmundIncident - VCFD Firefighters are on scene of a structure fire in the 1600 block of Edmund St. in Simi Valley. Crews responded to reports of an explosion in the garage, possibly caused by fireworks. The fire extended from the garage into the attic and main areas of the... VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) July 3, 2025 The fire is the latest caused by fireworks in the state ahead of the July Fourth weekend. In northern California, a warehouse near Sacramento storing fireworks exploded Tuesday evening. Authorities said Wednesday that seven people were unaccounted for due to the blast and fire.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
1 person killed in house fire after fireworks explode in garage: Police
One person was killed in a residential fire in California after fireworks exploded in a garage on the eve of July Fourth, police said. Emergency crews responded midday Thursday to a fire at the home in Simi Valley, located in Ventura County in the greater Los Angeles area. MORE: 7 missing after massive explosion and fire at California warehouse filled with fireworks: Officials Explosions were reported inside the garage, according to police. "The explosions were determined to be fireworks, which resulted in the death of one person," the Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement. "The fire spread from the garage to the attic and into the house." MORE: Madre Fire in California explodes to more than 35,000 acres overnight, evacuation orders issued Police did not release any details on the victim. Authorities urged people to avoid the area as fire crews worked to put out the blaze. This incident remains under investigation. #EdmundIncident – VCFD Firefighters are on scene of a structure fire in the 1600 block of Edmund St. in Simi Valley. Crews responded to reports of an explosion in the garage, possibly caused by fireworks. The fire extended from the garage into the attic and main areas of the… — VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) July 3, 2025 Thomas Kudlick, who lives across the street from the residence, told ABC Los Angeles station KABC that he came outside his home after hearing a "big explosion." "I could see the garage had collapsed," he told the station. "Within just minutes, there was more explosions and more smoke and fire."
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Ventura County firefighters battle garage fire at Simi Valley home
Ventura County firefighters responded to a home in Simi Valley Thursday afternoon after a garage fire. The Ventura County Fire Department said they received calls around 11:48 a.m. about a possible explosion on the 1600 block of Edmund Street. When firefighters arrived, they quickly took a "defensive posture" and upgraded the fire to a 2-alarm. One person was taken to the hospital and their condition is unknown. The Simi Valley Police Department is asking people to avoid the area of Fitzgerald Road between Hudspeth Avenue and Gibson Avenue until further notice. It is unclear if the fire was caused by an explosion. There are no reports of any fatalities at this time.
CBS News
13-06-2025
- CBS News
Simi Valley police bust sophisticated burglary crew, allegedly tied to $3 million jewelry store heist
The Simi Valley Police Department announced the bust of a sophisticated burglary crew on Friday, responsible for allegedly stealing more than $3 million worth of property from a Simi Valley jewelry store last month. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said four suspects allegedly connected to the burglary, ranging in age from 25 to 37 years old, pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday to felony charges of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and conspiracy to receive stolen property. "These were not teenagers burglarizing a local business to score quick cash," Nasarenko said. "Rather, they were sophisticated and skilled professionals who used countersurveillance measures, a collapsable ladder, rope, and power tools to cut through a roof, tunnel through a wall, breach a safe – to take millions in watches, jewelry, cash and other merchandise." Simi Valley Police Department Chief Steve Shorts said at Friday's news conference that the suspects are allegedly tied to a South American theft group, a network known for committing organized and targeted commercial burglaries. "All suspects are Chilean nationals who have been in California for an undetermined amount of time," he said. On May 25 around 11:30 p.m., the suspects allegedly entered the adjoining business of 5 Star Jewelry and Watch Repair through its roof. Shorts said they then tunneled their way through a shared wall into the jewelry store and spray-painted the surveillance cameras once inside the store. A safe containing approximately $3.5 million in cash, high-end watches, and precious jewelry was stolen. The day before, on May 24, Shorts described what could have been a practice run for the suspects, as they used similar tactics to break into Simi Jewelers & Pawnbrokers, but nothing was stolen. Shorts said detectives also located surveillance footage from the shopping plaza where 5 Star Jewelry and Watch Repair is located that showed the suspects allegedly scouting the site five days before the burglary occurred. Through coordinated efforts with local, state, and federal agencies, detectives used surveillance footage, license plate reader data and forensic review of digital evidence to identify the suspects. On June 10, police arrested Sergio Machuca, 28, Manuel Ibarra, 37, Camilo Lara, 32, and Heidy Trujillo, 25, all San Fernando Valley residents. "Some … were actually carrying the stolen merchandise in multiple bags from the jewelry store at the time of their arrest, while others were literally wearing the stolen jewelry," Nasarenko said. During the arrests and subsequent Canoga Park search warrant, detectives recovered large amounts of jewelry, cash, and designer watches, confirmed to be items from the Simi Valley jewelry store, and its adjoining candy shop business. There may be additional cases connected to this group, but police could not provide further details. "But believe me, that is being examined by outside agencies," Shorts said. All four suspects remain jailed on $100,000 bail.
