A man was arrested by police on Friday evening on suspicion of making fireworks and “incendiary devices” at a home in Philadelphia.
Shortly after 7 p.m., police and firefighters arrived at the 7100 block of Montague Street, near Princeton Avenue, in the city’s Mayfair neighborhood, responding to reports of fire, strong chemical odors and loud banging noises coming from a home, police said.
Firefighters saw smoke coming from the garage and the interior of a nearby home and rescued a man and a woman, according to a police spokesman.
After further investigation, materials used to make fireworks and “incendiary devices” were found, prompting the deployment of hazmat crews to the scene.
CBS News Philadelphia
The man who was rescued from the home was subsequently arrested, the police spokesperson said.
During the hazmat investigation, residents of nearby homes were evacuated and traffic on local roads was diverted away from the area.
According to police, the man is charged with possession of incendiary objects, risking catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person. His name has not been released: Police said this would happen “upon completion of the investigation and filing of charges.”
The Philadelphia Police Department’s Bomb Disposal Unit and members of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Task Force were on scene, as were personnel from Homeland Security and the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s office.
At least eight Americans died from fireworks in 2023, including two deaths linked to fireworks malfunctions and/or misfires, according to a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
