GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — A fire officials say was likely started by fireworks destroyed a Garden Grove home the day after the Fourth of July, leaving the homeowner with almost none of his belongings and raising renewed concerns about fireworks safety in the neighborhood.
What residents need to know now
The homeowner, who asked to be identified as Anthony Scotti, said he lost a collection of classic Volkswagen parts and restored vintage arcade machines that he had spent years repairing and preserving. Fire authorities told neighbors the blaze appears to have been triggered by fireworks set off nearby.
Scotti described being at home when he smelled what he at first assumed was a barbecue. He then noticed smoke and discovered a projectile had entered his back room, landed in a closet and ignited materials inside. He said he attempted to fight the flames but they spread quickly through the house.
"To be able to share those old classics with friends and family and their children that grow up," Scotti said, talking about the arcade machines. "Seeing an old arcade machine that takes quarters and has its own unique controls and real steering wheels and real shift levers and gas pedals to them is like seeing a foreign object."
In addition to the collection, Scotti said his prosthetic leg sustained heat damage and that he was unable to retrieve it before escaping. He lost nearly all of his possessions, he said.
Items lost and known values
| Item | Known detail |
|---|---|
| Vintage "Tron" arcade machine | Estimated value: $9,000 |
| Classic Volkswagen parts | Collection destroyed (value not specified) |
| Prosthetic leg | Heat damaged; unusable as described by homeowner |
- Cause: Fire authorities believe fireworks set off in the neighborhood started the blaze.
- Damage: Home destroyed, homeowner says 99% of possessions gone.
- Injury: No report of fatal injury; homeowner escaped but lost prosthetic leg to heat damage.
Local context and community consequences
This incident underscores long-standing concerns in Garden Grove and across Orange County about the dangers associated with consumer fireworks and illegal aerial devices. Beyond the immediate loss to one household, such fires threaten neighboring residences, first-responder safety and public property.
Neighbors were reported to have tried to assist as the fire spread. Fire authorities are investigating and have attributed the origin to fireworks, but no charges or official determinations beyond that have been announced.
For residents, the immediate takeaways are precautionary: avoid setting off fireworks in residential areas, keep combustible materials stored safely away from windows and doors, and ensure escape routes and emergency plans are in place for all household members, including those with mobility needs.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact local fire investigators. The homeowner said he may need community help to recover or replace critical items and preserve mobility while he rebuilds.
News Block will follow updates from Garden Grove fire officials and the homeowner as investigators complete their work.
