Authorities have discovered materials resembling homemade explosives and fireworks at the scene of a devastating explosion and fire in a Los Angeles County apartment building that claimed the life of a teenager, as reported by local sources.
FOX 11 Los Angeles provided aerial footage revealing a significant portion of the roof missing from the Bell Gardens apartment complex after Tuesday’s tragic incident.
According to police, a body discovered at the site corresponds with a 13-year-old who had been reported missing following the explosion, as stated by the news outlet.
During the initial investigation, items related to homemade explosives and fireworks, as well as ammunition, were uncovered. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau — Arson and Explosives Detail is actively involved in the investigation.
The aftermath of the explosion is visible in images showing the damage to the Bell Gardens apartment building, dated Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (KTTV)
Fox News Digital has sought additional comments from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department regarding the ongoing investigation.
The identity of the teenager was not immediately released.
The interior of an apartment in Bell Gardens, in Los Angeles County, that was destroyed in an explosion this week. (KTTV)
The teenager attended Suva Intermediate School, according to FOX 11.
“We are aware of a recent tragic incident that occurred in the Bell Gardens community that has impacted our school community,” Suva Intermediate School said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all those affected during this difficult time.”
More than 60 firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the scene on Tuesday and took about an hour to put out the blaze, the station reported.
Materials linked to homemade explosives and fireworks were found by investigators at the apartment in Bell Gardens, Calif., according to a report. (KTTV)
It cited fire officials as saying that two other people were hospitalized following the incident — a child who is in stable condition and an adult who is in critical condition.
