2025 – July 2, fireworks warehouse explosion, Esparto area NW of Sacramento, CA  —       7

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–7  NBC News. “Human remains found…California fireworks warehouse explosion.” 7-5-2025.

–7  New York Times. “7 Bodies Found at Site of California Fireworks Warehouse Explosion.” 7-6-2025.

Narrative Information

July 5, NBC News: “Human remains have been found at the site of a massive fireworks warehouse explosion that detonated in Northern California earlier this week, and where seven people remained unaccounted for, officials said Friday [July 4]. In a statement, Yolo County did not say how many human remains were found at the site of the explosion near Esparto, northwest of Sacramento, which caught fire and blew up on Tuesday [July 2]…. ‘At this time, no positive identifications have been made,’ Yolo County said in a statement.

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“Fire officials have said that the area was still burning and there were explosives at the site that required caution before recovery, and asked for patience.

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“The cause of the fire and explosion remains under investigation, officials said” (NBC News (Phil Helsel). “Human remains found at site of California fireworks warehouse explosion.” 7-5-2025.)

 

July 6, New York Times: “Seven bodies were recovered on Saturday at the site of a fireworks warehouse explosion in Northern California this week that set off a wildfire and forced San Jose and other cities to cancel or reschedule Fourth of July shows.

 

“The explosion on Tuesday, in a Yolo County farming community about 30 miles northwest of Sacramento, injured two people and started a 78-acre wildfire that prompted evacuation orders. Seven other people were reported missing, officials said.

 

“Lt. Don Harman of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said on Saturday that the bodies of seven people had been recovered at the site. The coroner’s office will use rapid DNA testing to identify them, he said in a phone interview.

 

“Investigators will keep searching on Sunday to make sure there are no other victims, Lieutenant Harman said, adding that a criminal investigation was continuing.

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“The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is leading the investigation into the explosion, the cause of which remains unclear. The agency has said that such accidents are very rare, and that it believes the warehouse was owned by an active pyrotechnic license holder. It has not named the company.

 

“The warehouse was operated by a company named Devastating Pyrotechnics. The company says it “has produced displays in the San Francisco Bay Area and other California venues for over 30 years,” according to an archived version of its website. Devastating Pyrotechnics said in a statement on its website that it would cooperate with the authorities.

 

“Douglas Horngrad, a lawyer whose contact information is listed on Devastating Pyrotechnics’ website, said on Sunday that he represented Kenny Chee, whom several media outlets have named as the chief executive of the company….” (New York Times. “7 Bodies Found at Site of California Fireworks Warehouse Explosion.” 7-6-2025.)

 

Sources

 

NBC News (Phil Helsel). “Human remains found at site of California fireworks warehouse explosion.” 7-5-2025. Accessed 7-5-2025 at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/human-remains-found-site-california-fireworks-warehouse-explosion-rcna216997

 

New York Times. “7 Bodies Found at Site of California Fireworks Warehouse Explosion.” 7-6-2025. Accessed 7-6-2025 at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/us/california-fireworks-warehouse-explosion-bodies.html