 |
| US Independence Day celebrations turn in violations |
Independence Day celebrations turned chaotic across Southern California, as large crowds stormed fireworks displays, and the area saw looting of stores and fires breaking out.
Newport Beach saw the worst rioting on the occasion of the Fourth of July celebrations, as Independence Day revelers flocked to Orange County, causing traffic jams and prompting police intervention as unrest escalated near the pier.
Eventually, authorities closed all stores stretching from Newport Pier to the Pacific Coast Highway, while police officers spread out to restore order.
Hundreds of people surrounded police officers, throwing bottles and other projectiles at them, before the crowd began clashing amongst themselves. Police on horseback advanced on the crowd to disperse it, allowing for further arrests.
Video footage from the scene showed what appeared to be the aftermath of a looting incident targeting the Pavilions grocery store in Newport Beach, with merchandise scattered in the parking lot, while groups of people remained outside the store laughing and joking. Many of those involved in the disturbance also appeared not to be residents of the Newport Beach area.
In other parts of Southern California, celebrations turned dangerous as firefighters battled several blazes, and one fireworks display ended with several people injured.
Several people were injured in Chino, California, when fireworks exploded too low to the ground as a large crowd gathered on a street to watch the celebrations. Across Los Angeles, firefighters responded to several fires Saturday night.
More than 60 firefighters were involved in extinguishing a fire that broke out inside a commercial building in the 14300 Figueroa Avenue area of the Harbor Gateway neighborhood, after the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) received a report at 9:49 p.m.
Another fire broke out shortly after 9 p.m. in the 15200 Toba Street area of Mission Hills, where several cypress trees caught fire within a residential neighborhood.
The fires threatened nearby homes and spread to two vehicles before firefighters were able to prevent them from reaching any houses. No injuries were reported. The causes of the two fires are still under investigation, and authorities have not ruled out fireworks as a possible cause.
