49 homes evacuated after San Bernardino police confiscate nearly 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- San Bernardino police seized about 4,000 to 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and evacuated 49 homes in the residential area where the contraband was found, authorities said.

No explosions or injuries were reported during the bust, one of two that occurred on Monday involving confiscated fireworks, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.

One suspect, who was armed with a handgun, was arrested in connection with the operations. His name was not released, but police say he has a criminal history and can expect to face multiple felony charges.

Police discovered the operation after they were called to the neighborhood Monday night on complaints of fireworks going off. They found a tent set up as a makeshift fireworks store in front of a home.

"It poses a major threat to not only the residents themselves, but also all of the neighborhood around," said Lt. Jennifer Kohrell with the San Bernardino Police Department. "We've had situations like this in the recent past where places like this exploded in the Inland Empire. And it caused not only death but major destruction and damage to homes and neighborhoods. So we take this very serious."

Bomb squads from five separate police agencies were on scene to assist with removing and disposing of the explosive material.

UPDATE: The figure describing the amount of fireworks seized has been corrected.