Fireworks Cause Major Disaster? US Media Reports "Fireworks Location Same as First Fire Site"

Multiple Investigations into Wildfire Causes Ongoing
At Least 11 Dead, Over 12,000 Buildings Destroyed

As multiple wildfires continue to spread uncontrollably in Los Angeles (LA), the largest city in the western United States, reports have emerged suggesting that New Year's fireworks celebrations may be the cause of the fires. On the 12th (local time), the U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) reported that a comprehensive analysis of videos and satellite images showed that the starting points of the current wildfires closely matched the locations where fire authorities responded to fires on New Year's Day.

As multiple wildfires continue to spread uncontrollably in Los Angeles (LA), the largest city in the western United States, reports have emerged suggesting that New Year's fireworks may be the cause of the fires. Photo by Getty Images and Yonhap News

Authorities believe the current wildfire began on the morning of the 7th near the Temescal ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Palisades area, where smoke was first observed. The issue is that a similar fire broke out in roughly the same area six days earlier, on New Year's Day, which fire authorities fought using helicopters. Satellite images also show significant overlap between the areas where smoke appeared 20 minutes after the current wildfire started and the locations burned and marked by the fire on January 1st.

Nearby residents testified that the fire on New Year's Day was caused by fireworks celebrations that began on New Year's Eve. Although the fire was extinguished at the time, embers may have remained and reignited, then combined with strong winds to escalate into one of the worst wildfires in history. Michael Gollner, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), told WP, "When a fire reignites, it slowly burns before flaring up, and it is clear that something from the previous fire remained and reignited within a week." A resident affected by the wildfire said, "Investigators came and said this happened because of idiots on New Year's Eve," adding, "I heard the fireworks, and the fire started around 12:20 a.m. on New Year's Day."

WP pointed out that in places like Colorado, California, and Hawaii, leftover embers from previous fires have often led to large wildfires, and that California authorities have warned residents about the risk of such reignitions due to the dry climate that frequently causes wildfires.

Investigations into the cause of the current wildfire are ongoing, considering various possibilities ranging from arson to electrical facility issues. With damages already estimated at around 200 trillion won, the cause investigation could take several months. Determining the cause is a key factor in establishing responsibility and the scale of compensation. So far, the wildfire has resulted in 24 deaths, destroyed over 12,000 buildings, and containment efforts remain minimal.

Every year, New Year's fireworks cause numerous casualties, as well as significant damage from noise and environmental pollution. In fact, this year in Germany, five people died due to New Year's fireworks. A 45-year-old man in Oschatz, Saxony, suffered a severe head injury from fireworks and died while receiving treatment at the hospital. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.

Meanwhile, regarding the New Year's fireworks celebrations that may have caused the wildfire, some have raised concerns about the dangers of New Year's Eve fireworks. New Year's Eve fireworks are a tradition and a form of cultural celebration in the U.S. and many other countries. However, opposition is significant due to the numerous casualties each year, as well as noise and environmental pollution. In fact, this year in Germany, five people died due to New Year's fireworks. A 45-year-old man in Oschatz, Saxony, died in hospital after suffering severe head injuries from fireworks. Additionally, one person each died in Hamburg, Gelsenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Kremmen in Brandenburg, and Hartha in Saxony.

A man in his 20s in Hamburg lost his life using homemade fireworks. There were also multiple cases of fireworks being intentionally thrown into crowds or exploding accidentally, causing injuries. A 10-year-old child in Rostock suffered serious facial injuries when a firework exploded right in front of him. A university hospital in the capital Berlin reported treating 15 patients for hand injuries caused by fireworks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.