Article: Fire officials working to keep illegal fireworks off streets

With Independence Day less than a week away, authorities already are confiscating illegal fireworks by the ton - literally.

So far, officials from cities in southeastern Los Angeles County have completely filled one 26-foot-long train car with confiscated illegal fireworks. Three other trailers are half-full.

''It's a huge sucking abyss of a problem,'' said Santa Fe Springs Fire Department Marshal Bill Murphy. ''I guarantee you, all these trailers will be full soon.''

Imported by smugglers and through Internet sales, illegal fireworks continue to pour into the state, authorities said.

Technically, any firework that explodes or flies is illegal to

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