Video captured of fireworks set off in Boyle Heights on Friday night. Image courtesy of Armando Velez.

Residents in Boyle Heights and surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods took to social media late Friday night to report the sounds of fireworks igniting amid fires burning around Los Angeles County.

Videos circulating on X and Instagram showed a series of fireworks lighting the downtown L.A. skyline shortly before 11 p.m. Users questioned the sounds, wondering if they were indeed fireworks or explosions. Others commented in disbelief. 

“Fires across the city and some idiot is setting fires works off in #DTLA #BoyleHeights #lafires,” a user posted on X.

“Why were fireworks going off just a few minutes ago in the middle of East LA??” one user wrote.

As soon as Boyle Heights resident Armando Velez heard the sounds, he went outside to capture video of the fireworks. “I heard a loud explosion,” he said.

“I was dumbfounded, by what I was seeing. So much devastation happening in our city already and someone thought it was a good idea to light fireworks.”

Others in City Terrace and El Sereno also heard the noise, which lasted around two minutes.

Boyle Heights Beat confirmed the incident with law enforcement.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department shared that the incident was reported at around 10:42 p.m. by the 1st Street Bridge near the intersection of 1st and Mission in Boyle Heights. No additional information about the incident was available at the time of this report. 

The reports come as multiple fires are raging around Los Angeles County, resulting in 11 deaths and more than 10,000 damaged or destroyed structures. 

This post was updated on Saturday, Jan. 11 to add information shared by law enforcement.

My background: I was born in Mexico and raised in Boyle Heights, where I got my start in journalism by launching a community blog. Most recently, I worked at the Los Angeles Times and have spent most of my career covering local news in LA, with a focus on community-centered stories, Latino communities and mentoring emerging writers.

What I do: I lead coverage of Boyle Heights and East LA across all platforms to inform, connect and uplift our community. I spend my days listening, planning, editing and coordinating to make sure our stories reflect the community fairly, while supporting and mentoring my team of reporters and freelancers so they can grow along the way.

Why LA?: It’s home. It’s the sounds of Spanglish and other languages, the smell of tacos and kimchi, the way street art tells stories and how, even though I hate traffic, I love how the freeways can take me to the beach or the mountains on a whim.

The best way to contact me: My email is jessica.perez@boyleheightsbeat.org.

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4 Comments

  1. The fireworks happened on mission/ myers between 1st and Cesar Chavez along the La river. Happens 4-5 times a week. It’s awful- literal explosives- and something needs to be done about it. Police just let it happen and know where it happens too.

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  2. Can confirm we also saw this last night. Completely outrageous. Would love to know who thought this was a good idea and allowed it to happen

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    1. I’m sick and tired of the constant street racing and fireworks behind the women’s shelter and I’m sure they are too.

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  3. They have been setting off fireworks at that spot several times a week for more than a year straight. Often times the fireworks are not the normal, visually entertaining types, they are of a variety that sound like you are in a war zone! Each firework/explosive emits a single massive blast that reverberates through out the city and rattles windows; Several of these are used on every occurrence. These incidents are quite nefarious. Who can afford to spend their money this way? Who would take the time to drive to the same location almost EVERY night just to set off fireworks/explosives? Who could possibly be so devoted to this activity that they commit these acts like clockwork for more than a year straight? I believe there is an agenda behind this. I believe these individuals engaging in this activity are being paid and are being provided the fireworks/explosives at zero cost to them. The LAPD isn’t doing anything about. I’m going to start doing my part to investigate these individuals. I hope more of you will join me.

    Reply
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