Alleged illegal fireworks factory found in Plymouth

Crews from a number of state and local agencies worked through last night and into early today to remove an enormous quantity of fireworks from what authorities said was a Plymouth home turned manufacturing factory. The raid was the result of an ongoing investigation, a spokeswoman for the state fire marshal said.

Between 9 last night and 5 this morning, officials removed enough fireworks to fill a 16-foot-long cargo box truck as well as six 30 to 55 gallon drums of raw materials, said Plymouth Battalion Chief Kevin Murphy. Officials found a combination of prepackaged retail fireworks as well as raw materials, presumably to manufacture fireworks, Murphy said. Officials also found six improvised explosive devices, according to a statement from the state fire marshal.

Most of the fireworks and raw materials were concentrated in the basement of the one-story home, though materials were also located on the ground floor of the house.

“It certainly could have destroyed the whole house,” as well as caused damage to nearby homes, said Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman for the fire marshal. A state hazardous materials team was on duty to assure materials were safely removed from the house.

The home was the scene of an explosion in July 1990, and officials found about $125,000 worth of illegal fireworks there in a subsequent raid. Six months later, resident Robert Rinaldi was burned on more than 90 percent of his body when a fire ignited a trailer full of fireworks.

In 1991, Rinaldi and his mother Ernestine Rinaldi each pleaded guilty to 18 charges of illegal possession of fireworks, The Patriot Ledger reported. It is unclear whether Rinaldi had allegedly been making fireworks since then or if he had stopped the practice for some time.

No arrests have been made, but charges will be filed against Rinaldi, Mieth said.

Rinaldi did not immediately respond to calls for comment.

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