Man in critical condition, 4 dogs displaced after fireworks cause Pacoima house fire: LAFD

A Pacoima house fire which authorities say was reportedly caused by fireworks left a man in critical condition Thursday morning.

Four dogs who survived the blaze in the 13000 block of West Remington Street were left displaced and Los Angeles Animal Services was called to the scene, according to the LA Fire Department. Firefighters responded at about 9 a.m. and received initial reports there had been an explosion caused by fireworks, LAFD said.

The victim, who authorities said is believed to be about 40 years old, suffered burn wounds and was taken to a hospital. No other details about his condition have been released by fire officials.

By 9:30 a.m., no flames were visible while the roof of the house was completely caved in. At least one dog could be seen within the wreckage, sitting among piles of debris as firefighters remained at the scene. 

While the victim told firefighters no other people were inside, fire officials later confirmed there were four dogs inside. 

With the flames out, firefighters’ primary concern has become the collapse of the home’s roof, LAFD officials said, and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety was called to the scene to inspect the integrity of the home.

The fire drew the response of several squads within LAFD — including the department’s hazmat investigators, arson division and bomb squad — as well as LAPD’s Major Crimes Unit and bomb squad investigators, the LA Department of Water and Power and SoCal Gas. 

The department has not released any other details about the fire as it remains under investigation.