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4 July 2025
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Deadly explosion at Esparto fireworks facility in Yolo County, California, US
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On the afternoon of Tuesday, 1 July 2025, a fire broke out at a fireworks facility in Esparto, California. The fire resulted in several explosions that culminated into one large eruption, killing seven people and injuring two more. Two to three residential buildings were destroyed and several more were damaged in the explosion. The fire that caused the explosions, the Oakdale Fire, grew to 78 acres (32 ha) and was fully contained by July 6.
Explosion and aftermath
At around 5:50 p.m. (PDT) on 1 July 2025, firefighters responded to a fire at a warehouse in Esparto, California. The fire soon engulfed the warehouse property in flames, which included two houses and several vehicles. Videos showed thick black smoke emitting from the warehouse, and bright sparks shooting from the warehouse were found in helicopter footage by KCRA-TV. Throughout the fire, small explosions would happen intermittently as the fire burned through the warehouse. The largest of these explosions occurred at around 19h00 (PDT), which completely destroyed the warehouse and sent debris across the area that ignited several spot fires. Some residents in Esparto reported shaking similar to that of an earthquake. Smoke from the explosion was visible from space. The fire that caused the explosion was named the Oakdale Fire. By the night of July 2, the fire had grown to 78 acres (32 ha) with no containment. The wildland portion of the fire was 100% contained by July 6.
The scene of the warehouse was closed to the public and was considered a crime scene. Residents in Esparto and nearby Madison were placed under evacuation orders. Mandatory evacuations for a one-mile section of road on the south side of the facility were issued by Yolo County officials, and streets surrounding the evacuation zone were closed. By 20h50 on July 1, evacuation orders for Madison were lifted.
Several cities in Northern California were forced to either cancel or downscale their celebrations for Independence Day on July 4. Celebrations in San Jose, Cloverdale, Lodi, and Chico were all cancelled. San Francisco and some inland cities continued with their shows.
Damage and casualties
Two to three houses were destroyed in the blast, with several more suffering some type of damage. Among those destroyed was the home of Yolo County Sheriff's Lieutenant Sam Machado, who was also the owner of the property that the warehouse was located on. It was unclear if Machado himself was injured.
After the explosion, seven people went missing and two injuries were reported. On July 4, human remains were discovered at the explosion site; Yolo County officials did not immediately say how many were found. A few days later on July 7, Yolo County officials confirmed that the remains of all seven missing people were found. Four workers were publicly identified by family and friends: brothers 18-year-old Jesus Ramos and 22-year-old Jhony Ramos, 28-year-old Junior Melendez and 41-year-old Carlos Javier Rodriguez. Melendez was a stepbrother to the Ramos brothers and it was the younger Ramos's first day at work. Neil Li, the general manager of Devastating Pyrotechnics, the company that owned the warehouse that exploded, was identified as a missing person by a family friend. DNA testing to identify the remaining victims began on 7 July 2025.
Investigations
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) was employed to lead the investigation into the explosion, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) being called in for assistance. The day following the explosion on July 2, a man claiming to be a journalist was arrested at the scene of the explosion for unauthorised entry into a closed emergency area.
At least two companies operated out of Machado's property: Blackstar Fireworks and Devastating Pyrotechnics. The former of which was operated next to Machado's house, while Devastating Pyrotechnics was reportedly the owner of the warehouse. According to the director of the Yolo County Planning Commission, Devastating Fireworks had no business license or permission to store fireworks on the property, and that the property was limited to agricultural uses only. The executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, Julie Heckman, alleged that the building was not properly equipped to store fireworks. Fire officials said that they had performed safety checks on the property before the explosion, but did not elaborate on whether or not there were any concerns. The owner of Blackstar Fireworks, Craig Cutright, was also an employee of Devastating Pyrotechnics.
On July 4, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Kenneth Chee, owner and CEO of Devastating Pyrotechnics, was denied a license by the ATF to purchase or own explosives. This was due to a 1998 conviction of assault with a firearm and firing a gun from a vehicle at a person that resulted in a five-year sentence; the ATF prevents anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison from obtaining a federal explosives license. Despite being denied federal licenses, he was granted permission from the State Fire Marshal to trade, sell, and launch fireworks; all three licenses were listed under Chee's name. Devastating Pyrotechnics was also already permitted to store fireworks in storage containers far away from the site of the explosion, around 2 000 feet (610 m) away.
Sources: Various
Explosion and aftermath
At around 5:50 p.m. (PDT) on 1 July 2025, firefighters responded to a fire at a warehouse in Esparto, California. The fire soon engulfed the warehouse property in flames, which included two houses and several vehicles. Videos showed thick black smoke emitting from the warehouse, and bright sparks shooting from the warehouse were found in helicopter footage by KCRA-TV. Throughout the fire, small explosions would happen intermittently as the fire burned through the warehouse. The largest of these explosions occurred at around 19h00 (PDT), which completely destroyed the warehouse and sent debris across the area that ignited several spot fires. Some residents in Esparto reported shaking similar to that of an earthquake. Smoke from the explosion was visible from space. The fire that caused the explosion was named the Oakdale Fire. By the night of July 2, the fire had grown to 78 acres (32 ha) with no containment. The wildland portion of the fire was 100% contained by July 6.
The scene of the warehouse was closed to the public and was considered a crime scene. Residents in Esparto and nearby Madison were placed under evacuation orders. Mandatory evacuations for a one-mile section of road on the south side of the facility were issued by Yolo County officials, and streets surrounding the evacuation zone were closed. By 20h50 on July 1, evacuation orders for Madison were lifted.
Several cities in Northern California were forced to either cancel or downscale their celebrations for Independence Day on July 4. Celebrations in San Jose, Cloverdale, Lodi, and Chico were all cancelled. San Francisco and some inland cities continued with their shows.
Damage and casualties
Two to three houses were destroyed in the blast, with several more suffering some type of damage. Among those destroyed was the home of Yolo County Sheriff's Lieutenant Sam Machado, who was also the owner of the property that the warehouse was located on. It was unclear if Machado himself was injured.
After the explosion, seven people went missing and two injuries were reported. On July 4, human remains were discovered at the explosion site; Yolo County officials did not immediately say how many were found. A few days later on July 7, Yolo County officials confirmed that the remains of all seven missing people were found. Four workers were publicly identified by family and friends: brothers 18-year-old Jesus Ramos and 22-year-old Jhony Ramos, 28-year-old Junior Melendez and 41-year-old Carlos Javier Rodriguez. Melendez was a stepbrother to the Ramos brothers and it was the younger Ramos's first day at work. Neil Li, the general manager of Devastating Pyrotechnics, the company that owned the warehouse that exploded, was identified as a missing person by a family friend. DNA testing to identify the remaining victims began on 7 July 2025.
Investigations
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) was employed to lead the investigation into the explosion, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) being called in for assistance. The day following the explosion on July 2, a man claiming to be a journalist was arrested at the scene of the explosion for unauthorised entry into a closed emergency area.
At least two companies operated out of Machado's property: Blackstar Fireworks and Devastating Pyrotechnics. The former of which was operated next to Machado's house, while Devastating Pyrotechnics was reportedly the owner of the warehouse. According to the director of the Yolo County Planning Commission, Devastating Fireworks had no business license or permission to store fireworks on the property, and that the property was limited to agricultural uses only. The executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, Julie Heckman, alleged that the building was not properly equipped to store fireworks. Fire officials said that they had performed safety checks on the property before the explosion, but did not elaborate on whether or not there were any concerns. The owner of Blackstar Fireworks, Craig Cutright, was also an employee of Devastating Pyrotechnics.
On July 4, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Kenneth Chee, owner and CEO of Devastating Pyrotechnics, was denied a license by the ATF to purchase or own explosives. This was due to a 1998 conviction of assault with a firearm and firing a gun from a vehicle at a person that resulted in a five-year sentence; the ATF prevents anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison from obtaining a federal explosives license. Despite being denied federal licenses, he was granted permission from the State Fire Marshal to trade, sell, and launch fireworks; all three licenses were listed under Chee's name. Devastating Pyrotechnics was also already permitted to store fireworks in storage containers far away from the site of the explosion, around 2 000 feet (610 m) away.
Sources: Various
