7 missing after fireworks warehouse explosions, fire in California

HUDSON SHEATS/VIA REUTERS

Clouds of smoke rise following explosions at a firework storage warehouse in Esparto, Calif., on July 1, in this screengrab taken from a social media video.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. >> Seven people remained unaccounted for today as investigators and fire crews continued assessing hazards at the site of multiple fireworks explosions that destroyed a pyrotechnics warehouse in rural Yolo County.

The Esparto Fire Protection District said there is a continued threat to the area near County Roads 23 and 86A, where the fire began just after 6 p.m. Tuesday and ignited what fire officials described as “numerous spot fires” around the warehouse property.

Cal Fire reported the blaze reached 78 acres before crews stopped its forward spread by 7:30 p.m.

Evacuation orders remain in effect, and the site remains an active crime scene as firefighters, Yolo County sheriff’s deputies and state explosives investigators combed the sprawling scene that damaged or destroyed several structures, including at least two homes.

Authorities were expected to provide a status briefing on the explosions, which sparked the Oakdale Fire and shook homes and vehicles across a 10-mile radius. The ensuing fireballs from ignited pyrotechnics sent a plume of smoke miles into the area that was visible in Vacaville, Woodland and Sacramento before sundown.

The site of the blasts was in far western Yolo County, about a mile south of the town of Esparto and 30 miles west of Sacramento.

Don't miss out on what's happening!

Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!

Email Sign Up
By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser's and Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.

“There is a reduced risk today, but a risk that still remains and thus the evacuation orders are in place,” Esparto fire officials said in a statement. “It is the goal to get residents back to their homes and possibly reduce the footprint of that evacuation zone.”

Those evacuation zones included MAD063-A and MAD149-B. Officials said the Yolo County Public Library in Esparto — 17065 Yolo Ave. — is open as an evacuation center and cooling zone.

Officials did not name the business involved in the conflagration but public records and regional government officials confirmed that the property on County Road 23 was being used by Devastating Pyrotechnics LLC, a San Francisco-based company known for staging large-scale fireworks displays across California and the U.S. Authorities did say the business held an active pyrotechnic license with the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Dramatic footage of the explosions dominated local newscasts and social media Tuesday night. KCRA’s live aerial footage captured the moment one of the buildings exploded in a fireball as anchors reacted in real time.

In a joint statement, officials from the city of Marysville, city of Yuba City, and Sutter and Yuba counties acknowledged the incident and confirmed that fireworks meant for their upcoming Independence Day celebrations were destroyed in the blaze. The company was also contracted with several other municipalities across the capital region and Northern California, and the status of those shows was not immediately clear.

“Devastating Pyrotechnics has been a trusted partner and a cherished part of our regional fireworks celebrations,” the Yuba-Sutter officials said in their statement. “This tragic incident is a sobering reminder of the many hands behind the scenes who help create joy for others.” Local officials said they are exploring alternative plans for July 4 but could not confirm if the fireworks portions of the events would proceed.

Calls and messages to officials of the company were not immediately returned.

Esparto Fire officials said drones were being used to assess hazards and aid in the investigation, and that an interagency operational briefing would be held. In the meantime, fire officials urged the public to share any video or photos from the area before or after the explosion to aid investigators.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal, a division of Cal Fire, emphasized that incidents like this are rare due to stringent licensing standards. Still, the agency said its team would investigate whether activities at the site complied with both state and federal regulations.

See more:National news

6 Comments
By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.
Please log in to comment