On Wednesday, seven people went missing following an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in rural Northern California. The blast led to a significant fire that spread to nearby farms, prompting evacuations in the surrounding areas, as reported by local authorities.
Two people sustained injuries and received medical treatment, according to Esparto Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence during a press briefing. He mentioned only that both were “OK,” without specifying if they were employees of the warehouse.
Emergency responders and investigators utilized drones in coordination with property owners to search for the missing individuals, as stated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It’s unclear whether those who are missing worked at the warehouse or lived in the vicinity.
Following the explosion on Tuesday night, residents were advised to steer clear of the area. The explosion resulted in a series of fireworks being set off, which ignited additional spot fires and ultimately caused the collapse of a building near Esparto, located about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
“The fire will take time to cool down. An explosives expert will need to safely access the site for assessment,” noted the European County Sheriff’s Office in a statement late Tuesday.
Syanna Ruiz, age 18, shared with the Sacramento Bee that her boyfriend, Jesus Ramos, along with his two brothers, are among the missing. She mentioned that it was Ramos’ first day working at the warehouse.
“They were all three incredible guys, and there were many people coming for them,” Ruiz expressed. “I pray to God that, somehow, they’re okay.”
The fire extended over nearly 80 acres, consuming surrounding agricultural land, as indicated by officials.
The property belongs to a licensed fireworks holder, according to Cal Fire’s statement on Wednesday.
“Incidents like this are very uncommon because facilities have to adhere to stringent California fireworks regulations as well as federal explosives storage requirements,” they added.
According to state records, the facility’s license is associated with Black Star Fireworks.
The owners reportedly did not respond to inquiries from the Associated Press seeking comment.
The office of Gavin Newsom emphasized that an arson and bomb investigation team remains on standby for deployment as needed, and support resources will be mobilized if required.
Officials from neighboring Sutter and Yuba Counties announced plans on Wednesday to reconsider their July 4th celebrations after the fireworks were destroyed in the incident.
