Illegal Fireworks Reportedly Ignite House Fire In Buena Park

BUENA PARK (CBSLA.com) — Crews battled a house fire in Buena Park Thursday night reportedly sparked by illegal fireworks.

The fire broke out in the 8200 block of Joshua Circle at around 10:30 p.m., according to Orange County Fire Battalion Chief Anthony Espinosa.

Investigators say a bottle rocket landed on the home and set the wood shingle roof ablaze.

"It was a shake shingle roof, perfect condition for bottle rockets, fireworks," Espinosa said. "As a result of the investigation, preliminary, it appears the fire started as a possible bottle rocket."

Firefighters were able to knock down the flames before they spread to neighboring homes.

Hours later, neighbors couldn't help but stare at the blackened structure, which sat scattered with debris and posted with red warning fliers.

"I've never seen this kind of devastation in my life next to me," resident Anita Bhasin said.

The older couple who lives at the house had just come back from celebrating Independence Day and their 39th wedding anniversary when neighbors alerted them to the fire on the roof.

The residents escaped without injury.

"I think it's awful," neighbor Ann Powell-Cordon said. "I'm so against fireworks. It just gets out of control and, look what happened, this poor family, their life has been ruined."

Investigators said they probably won't be able to determine who ignited the bottle rocket.