Fireworks explosion, structure fires in Ontario neighborhood prompt response from emergency personnel: WATCH LIVE
ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) – A massive explosion ignited multiple structure fires in an Ontario neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a response from emergency personnel and evacuations of the immediate area.
The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. in the 400 block of West Francis Street, shattering nearby windows and sending a large plume of smoke into the air.
"We are aware of the loud explosion that was heard recently," a brief statement from the city's official Twitter account said, while concerned witnesses flooded social media with photos, videos and speculation in the immediate aftermath. "The Ontario Police Department and the Ontario Fire Department are investigating it. Please stay clear of the area."
Whether anyone was seriously injured was unknown.
Residents as far away as Anaheim and Huntington Beach reported feeling reverberations from the initial explosion.
Several blocks from the scene, footage recorded by a witness showed smoke rising above the fire while the distinctive sound of fireworks exploding was clearly audible. Meanwhile, multiple car alarms that were set off can also be heard.
A later tweet from the city said the fire erupted after "a large amount of fireworks at a house ignited." At least one other home was also burning, along with several outdoor structures on a ranch-like property.
News video from AIR7 HD showed firefighters rescuing a horse that was trapped in an enclosure, with spot fires burning dangerously close by.
Just after 2 p.m., firefighters issued an evacuation order for Francis Street and Maple Avenue Between Fern and San Antonio avenues. A temporary care and reception center was established at the De Anza Community Center, located at 1405 South Fern Avenue in Ontario.
East and westbound traffic on Francis, Maple and Locust streets was shut down between Euclid and San Antonio avenues.
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