7 people unaccounted for following Yolo County fireworks facility explosion
Race to locate those missing in fireworks warehouse explosion
Search and rescue crews are racing to locate the seven people missing in a fireworks warehouse explosion in Esparto, but the efforts to find them are complicated
ESPARTO, Calif. - Seven people were unaccounted for on Wednesday, following a massive explosion at a fireworks' storage facility in Yolo County, CalFire and emergency operations officials said.
In addition, two people received medical treatment but are OK, according to Esparto Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence. He said he wouldn't comment further on those who are considered missing, citing an "ongoing investigation." He did say, however, that his agency has communicated with their families, despite some saying otherwise.
The Cal Fire Office of the state Fire Marshal will be the lead investigator on the case and officials described the area as an "active crime scene."
Agonizing wait for family of those missing in fireworks warehouse explosion
Among those missing after an explosion and fire at a fireworks warehouse in Yolo County are three brothers who had recently started working at the facility, according to family members.
Missing people
First responders and crews were trying to find these missing people by air, according to Yolo County Office of Emergency Services' spokeswoman Laura Galindo and CalFire spokesman Jason Clay.
Sacramento-based TV station KCRA3 identified one of the people missing as 18-year-old Jesus Maneces Ramos; it was his first day working at the facility. He was supposed to be off work at 2 p.m. and is expecting a baby with his girlfriend.
Two people escaped and were hospitalized.
Rare explosion at fireworks facility
The backstory:
The explosive scene was reported just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the town of Esparto, an agricultural town that is part of the Sacramento-metropolitan area.
The specific address is located near County Road 23 and County Road 86A.
Aerial views show a burned-out facility in what appears to be a farm-like field.
On Wednesday, Lawrence told reporters that the fire department had conducted "site visits" at the property before, and he believed that the company had passed prior inspections.
"I can say I have not seen anything like this," Lawrence said. "This is obviously an incident of great magnitude."
He added that his fire department is small and made up mostly of volunteers, and he was grateful for all the outside help.
It's still unknown what caused the fireworks to go off.
Devastating Pyrotechnics operated the warehouse
What we know:
Devastating Pyrotechnics put out the following statement on Wednesday evening: "Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel. Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation."
Officials confirmed the site is a licensed fireworks business.
Yolo County officials said they are working with the pyrotechnic license holder to ensure compliance with state and federal explosive storage regulations.
Residents hear explosion
Julian Grant lives nearby and described hearing what it sounded like when the entire building exploded. He said he was taking a nap at the time.
"I woke up out of a dead sleep and I thought it was an earthquake," Grant said on Wednesday. I felt the whole apartment shake, the windows rattle. I thought the window was going to just break out. It felt like someone grabbed the apartments and just shook them. When I was outside looking at the smoke and everything, I felt another explosion that shook everything - the cement, the ground, the stairways, everything."
Another resident said he felt shock waves during the explosion.
"There were five large ones over the course of time. It was about an hour and a half," said Rob. "But there was one very large one at the beginning and two others closely followed that."
Residents weren't allowed back into their homes on Wednesday night.
Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence said his next priority to reduce the fire zone so that residents could come back.
Some damage
Lawrence told reporters that he sent up drones to assess the damage.
Some homeowners in the area have already begun surveying the damage in the area.
Patrick Sribner told sister station KCRA3 that the explosion ended up blowing out his French doors, including the casing and plaster.
"When we first got in, there was plaster all over the steps here," he said. "When I went to open the door, it all fell on the inside and I figured out what was going on."
Fireworks show impacts
The Cloverdale Lions Club said on Wednesday it was canceling its annual Fourth of July fireworks show following the explosion as the warehouse supplies its fireworks. The city of San Jose was also forced to cancel its annual show as its fireworks were destroyed in the explosion, according to Mayor Matt Mahan. The cities of St Helena, Chico, and Lodi have also canceled their fireworks shows.