Preliminary findings on the detonation of seized illegal fireworks in South Los Angeles in June show Los Angeles Police Department technicians miscalculated about the weight of the explosives being detonated.
According to LAPD Chief Michel Moore, technicians estimated 16 pounds of explosives were being detonated in their specially designed containment unit on June 30.
An analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revealed that 42 pounds of net explosives were detonated, well above the unit’s capacity.
The resulting damage injured 17 people, damaged 13 businesses, 22 residences and 37 vehicles.
“I’m grateful this incident did not result in a loss of life,” Moore said. “But we can do better and we will do better.”
Moore said Monday at a news conference that bomb technicians were detonating of some of the near 16 tons of fireworks that Arturo Ceja III was storing at his home. The explosives were not physically weighed, but were x-rayed and cut into.
“It’s recommended to minimize the handling of these explosives as much as possible,” Moore said.
The supervisors and technicians involved with the detonation have been removed from the field, pending the official release of the investigation, as well as further training, Moore said.
In the aftermath of the incident, Moore said the police department will expand its protocols to include increased training and increased oversight before detonation.