Teen accused of making thousands of dollars in illegal fireworks in Hayward garage

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) -- The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is tallying tens of thousands of dollars in illegal fireworks following two large busts.

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In one case, deputies say a teen was actually making his own fireworks to sell.

In full protective gear, an Alameda County bomb squad technician entered a Hayward garage as neighbors evacuated it.

"He asked me for my license and he said, 'How many people are in the house?' And when he took the count that's when I realized that it's scary that I do need to leave the house," said Hayward resident Supriya Sharma.

Hayward police tracked a teen's Craigslist ad for fireworks sales.

"They went back to his house subsequently and found a fireworks laboratory," said Alameda County Sherriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly. "A pretty elaborate one at that."

The materials are so volatile they're now being detonated at the county's bomb range.

"It's scary because you should be able to live in your neighborhood and not worry about your house blowing up because your neighbor's kid is making fireworks," Kelly said.

"I know that kid I've seen him when he was little so I'm surprised at how he got into all this," Sharma told ABC7 News.

Illegal fireworks are big business ahead of the 4th of July. The stash, raided by police and deputies in San Leandro, is estimated to be worth $30-50,000.

"That was also associated with a group that was involved in some illegal gun activity," Kelly told ABC7 News.

RELATED: 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks seized in Alameda County

The bulding on Estabrook Street is a motorcycle clubhouse, neighbors tell ABC7 News. More than 3,000 pounds of fireworks were siezed from inside.