2 dead after massive SoCal fireworks explosion, fire

ONTARIO, California -- A massive explosion ignited multiple structure fires in the Southern California city of Ontario on Tuesday afternoon that left two people dead.

City officials said a "large structure fire" erupted after "a large amount of fireworks at a house ignited."

At least two homes burned, along with several outdoor structures on a ranch-like property. Video of the scene showed one of the homes was entirely destroyed by the blast, which sent a large plume of smoke into the air. Officials later put up crime scene tape around that house. 

About 50 firefighters were involved in battling the flames and Ontario Fire Chief Ray Gayk said the two bodies were found as they fought the blaze.

The Ontario bomb squad was combing the area because of a significant amount of unexplored fireworks on the ground, Gayk said. All fireworks are illegal in Ontario, officials added.

Ontario Police Chief Mike Lorenz described the destroyed house as containing a large cache of commercial-grade fireworks; he said there were also previous complaints about that property where the explosion occurred.

One nearby resident, whose house shook, thought it was an earthquake. Another neighbor told ABC affiliate KABC that the blast broke their windows, and yet another witness told KABC he saw people running and screaming following the blast.

Several blocks around the incident were evacuated and a temporary shelter was set up.

Gayk said it would take several days to investigate, but they are receiving help from agencies including the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Police said they were investigating the incident as a possible felony because of the illegal fireworks.

Ontario is about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.

It scared me and shook the whole house 😅 pic.twitter.com/BwQM12750g

— kawaii 🐾 (@supersupersteff) March 16, 2021