1 hospitalized after Pacoima home partially collapses in explosion; fireworks eyed as possible cause

PACOIMA, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man was hospitalized in critical condition after a home in Pacoima was partially destroyed in an explosion that was possibly caused by fireworks, officials said.

The incident was reported around 9 a.m. Thursday at Remington Street and Remick Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

AIR7 was over the scene where extensive damage to the one-story structure was visible from overhead.

The injured 40-year-old man suffered burns, according to the Fire Department. He told firefighters that no other people were home at the time of the blast.

Twenty-six homes remained evacuated as of late Thursday.

Fernando Emmel, who witnessed the explosion as he was driving past, said the force of the blast sent the roof of the structure high into the air before it collapsed.

Emmel said he saw the injured man "covered in blisters and blood, his clothing was smoking," and he had a gash on the side of his neck.

Emmel and several others rushed to help the man before emergency responders arrived.

Four dogs that were inside the single-family home were found and are expected to be OK. Two of the dogs were seen in AIR7 video, apparently not seriously injured as they paced around in an area that had not yet been cleared by the bomb squad.

LAFD personnel were coordinating with Urban Search and Rescue and the L.A. Department of Building and Safety to address the structural integrity of the collapsed home before firefighters made entry, according to a statement.

Several other agencies also responded to the blast site, including the LAFD Hazmat and Arson teams, LAPD Bomb Squad and Major Crimes Division, the Department of Water and Power and SoCal Gas.

The cause of the explosion remained under investigation.