7 People Missing After 'Tragic' Explosion at California Fireworks Facility
"First responders and investigators are working diligently with the property owner to determine the whereabouts of those individuals," a Yolo County government news release confirmed
The "cause of the explosion remains under investigation," the county's sheriff's office said on FacebookMultiple individuals remain unaccounted for following an explosion at a fireworks facility in northern California, authorities have confirmed.
On Tuesday, July 1, at approximately 6 p.m. local time, the Esparto Fire Protection District and the Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal (OFSM) responded after an "explosion at a pyrotechnics facility in Esparto," a news release shared by Yolo County officials noted.
"Seven individuals remain unaccounted for. First responders and investigators are working diligently with the property owner to determine the whereabouts of those individuals," the post shared on Wednesday stated of the incident, which occurred on County Road 23 and County Road 86A.
"We have investigators monitoring the area remotely utilizing unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to assess hazards and further the investigation," the release added.
The Yolo County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post late on Tuesday, "As many of you are aware, there was a significant explosion earlier today near the Esparto/Madison area, specifically around County Road 23 and County Road 86A. A warehouse storing fireworks exploded and continues to burn."
Video footage shared by NBC News showed the moment the warehouse burst into flames, before the blaze triggered a huge fireball. The outlet identified the fireworks company as Devastating Pyrotechnics.
The company said in a statement on its website, "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."
In a separate Yolo County news release shared on Wednesday, Yolo County Board of Supervisors Angel Barajas, District 5, extended officials' "deepest concern to those impacted and our thoughts remain especially with the families of the seven individuals still unaccounted for."
"This is a tragic and evolving situation, and we want to express our profound gratitude to the first responders, fire personnel, law enforcement agencies, and supporting partners from across the region who worked through the night to contain the fire, secure the scene, and protect residents,' Barajas said, per the post.
The release stated that county authorities' focus was now "on supporting the ongoing response including search efforts and the active investigation being led by Cal Fire – Office of State Fire Marshal. We are committed to working closely with all involved agencies to ensure the investigation is thorough, transparent, and maintains its integrity."
'Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy. We stand with the Esparto community and will continue to support the response and recovery in every way possible,' Mary Vixie-Sandy, Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and District 3 Representative, stated, per the post, which added that residents in the area had been "strongly urged to avoid evacuation zones to ensure their safety."
Esparto Fire Protection District and local first responders "have been prioritizing efforts to gain access to the facility to mitigate hazards with the use of firefighting equipment," a further release shared later on Wednesday added, stating that efforts would continue throughout the evening.
"The scene currently remains active and hazardous with explosions continuing to occur throughout the afternoon and evening," the latest news release update confirmed.
Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence told reporters on Tuesday that firefighters had discovered "a few commercial buildings well-involved, as well as numerous explosions and numerous spot fires throughout the area" while responding to the scene, per NBC News.
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The Yolo County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that "the cause of the explosion remains under investigation."
Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence, the Yolo County Sheriff's Office and a spokesperson for Devastating Pyrotechnics didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
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