9-Year-Old Girls Loses a Hand in Illegal Firework Accident

COMPTON – A 9-year-old girl was severely injured by fireworks on Saturday afternoon, authorities said. The incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m. at Burrell-MacDonald Park in the 2500 block of West Alondra Boulevard in the City of Compton.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Arson/Explosive Detail (AED) Investigators arrived on scene to investigate the incident. The explosion caused the injury to the girl, who lost her left hand, fingers from her right hand and sustained facial injuries as a result of the blast.

Authorities believe based on preliminary investigations that the injuries were caused by the use of illegal fireworks or explosives. The child was taken to the hospital and is currently in stable condition. The case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Arson/Explosives Detail of the Special Enforcement Bureau, Detective Everett at (323) 881-7500.  If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Safety Tips

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you’ll enjoy them much more knowing your family is safe. Take extra precautions this Fourth of July and your holiday will be a blast! ‪#‎LASD‬

• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
• Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
• A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children.
• Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they’ll run loose or get injured.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
• Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
• Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
• Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or local Law Enforcement Agency.

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