7 missing after explosion at California fireworks warehouse sets off
massive blaze
[July 03, 2025]
ESPARTO, Calif. (AP) — Seven people were missing Wednesday
following an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in rural Northern
California that caused a massive fire that spread to farm fields and
forced evacuations in the surrounding community, authorities said.
Two people were injured and received medical care, Esparto Fire Chief
Curtis Lawrence said at a news conference Wednesday. Lawrence provided
no further information other than to say the two were “OK,” and it
wasn't known if the victims worked at the facility.
Emergency crews and investigators were working with the property’s owner
and monitoring the area using drones to find the missing individuals,
said the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It was
not immediately clear if those missing worked at the warehouse or lived
nearby.
People were urged to avoid the area after the Tuesday night blast, which
set off a barrage of fireworks and caused a blaze that led to other spot
fires and collapsed the building near Esparto in Yolo County about 40
miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Sacramento.
The cause of the explosion was under investigation.
“The fire will take time to cool, and once it does, explosive experts
must safely enter the site to assess and secure the area,” the Yolo
County Sheriff's Office said in a statement late Tuesday.
Syanna Ruiz, 18, told the Sacramento Bee that her boyfriend, Jesus
Ramos, and two of his brothers were missing. Tuesday was Ramos's first
day on the job at the warehouse, she said.
“They were all three incredible men who had so much coming for them,
that had so much coming their way,” Ruiz said. “I’m just praying to God
that some way, somehow, they’re OK."
The fire was held at nearly 80 acres (33 hectares) after scorching
surrounding agricultural fields, officials said.
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Smoke and flames rise during a fireworks warehouse explosion near
Esparto, Calif., Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (Kent Porter/The Press
Democrat via AP)
The property is owned by "an active pyrotechnic license holder,” Cal
Fire said in a statement Wednesday. “This type of incident is very
rare, as facilities like this are required to not only follow our
stringent California pyrotechnic requirements, but also federal
explosive storage requirements.”
The state fire marshal’s website listed the license for the facility
as belonging to Blackstar Fireworks. The owner who was listed did
not respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting
comment.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said it was tracking what happened and
that state ground and air resources were deployed.
“The State Fire Marshal has sent an arson and bomb investigation
team, and stands ready to provide additional support as needed,” the
governor's office said on the social site X.
Officials in nearby Sutter and Yuba counties announced Wednesday
that they were exploring alternatives for Fourth of July
celebrations after their fireworks were destroyed in the blast.
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