Police said three adults and a child were hurt after a large quantity of fireworks ignited on D Street.
CHINO, CA — Four people, including a child, were injured Saturday night when fireworks exploded during a Fourth of July gathering in a Chino neighborhood, police said.
The blast happened about 8:30 p.m. in the 5600 block of D Street, where a large group had gathered for a fireworks display. Chino police said detectives believe a large quantity of fireworks ignited, causing an explosion that seriously injured three adults and a child and set a vehicle on fire.
Video from the scene showed people running from the blast as a car burned in the street. Aerial video later showed debris spread across a front yard and nearby roadway. Police first responded to a reported vehicle fire, then found the larger scene tied to the fireworks explosion. Chino police said the three adults remained hospitalized with severe injuries. The child’s condition had not been released Sunday. Authorities had not identified the injured people or said whether they were residents of the block, guests at the gathering or passersby.
Witnesses told reporters the explosion happened during a neighborhood fireworks display. The force of the blast sent people scattering, and smoke and flames were visible as emergency crews arrived. Investigators had not said Sunday what type of fireworks were involved, who brought them to the gathering or whether the fireworks were legal. Police said the case remained under investigation. No arrests or citations had been announced, and officials had not released an estimate of property damage. The vehicle fire appeared to be the most visible damage in early video from the scene.
The explosion came during one of the busiest nights of the year for fire and police agencies across Southern California. Chino allows some “Safe and Sane” fireworks under city rules, but the city limits where and when they may be sold and discharged. The city says legal sales begin at noon July 1 and end at 9 p.m. July 4 each year, while discharge is allowed through midnight on the Fourth of July. Illegal fireworks carry a $1,000 fine in Chino, and inappropriate use of “Safe and Sane” fireworks carries a $500 fine.
Chino also bars fireworks in several areas, including public parks, land outside residential zones and parts of the city near Euclid Avenue, Kimball Avenue and Pine Avenue. Police said before the holiday that they increase staffing for fireworks calls around July 4, including extra enforcement cars and more than 50 personnel on the holiday. The city’s official fireworks celebration was held earlier, June 26 and June 27, at Ruben S. Ayala Park. That event included a scheduled fireworks show at 9 p.m. June 27, separate from the neighborhood gathering where Saturday’s explosion occurred.
Investigators were expected to review witness statements, videos and physical evidence from D Street to determine how the fireworks ignited. The inquiry could focus on whether the fireworks were illegal, whether they were being stored or handled improperly, and whether any person may face charges or fines. Under city guidance, illegal fireworks violations can be treated as misdemeanors, but enforcement often depends on officers witnessing the violation or a witness providing a formal statement. Police had not announced a briefing or a court date as of Sunday.
The D Street scene showed the sudden shift from holiday gathering to emergency response. Neighbors described a chaotic moment as people fled and crews moved into the area. The burned vehicle remained a central piece of the investigation, along with the debris field across the front yard and street. Officials did not say how many people were at the gathering when the fireworks ignited. They also did not say whether nearby homes were damaged or whether firefighters had to treat anyone at the scene before transport to hospitals.
The case remained active Sunday, July 5, with three adults hospitalized and the child’s condition still unknown. Police had not released the victims’ names, the cause of the ignition or any enforcement action tied to the explosion.
Author note: Last updated Sunday, July 5, 2026.