Northern California fireworks explosion: Two more missing people named
A GoFundMe page created by a relative Friday identified 41-year-old Carlos Rodriguez as among those missing since the explosion, Sacramento station ABC10 reported. The page was created by the aunt of Rodriguez's wife, Tiffany Nolan-Rodriguez.
'My heart is in pieces not only for our families, but more importantly my kids that don't have the ability to understand fully of what's going on,' Nolan-Rodriguez wrote Friday in a Facebook post.
A Friday Facebook post by CWC Life, a church in Manteca (San Joaquin County), also identified Angel Voller, a member of the church, as having 'tragically passed away' in the explosion.
Venture Academy also posted a statement to Instagram this week announcing the 'sudden and tragic passing of Angel Voller.'
'Angel was a fierce competitor and the most loyal friend and teammate you could ever ask for,' the charter school's statement read.
Seven people were originally reported missing shortly after the explosion Tuesday. Officials confirmed Thursday that at least one person had been killed by the blast, which also injured two people and forced evacuations within a 1-mile radius.
Human remains have since been located at the scene of the blast, county officials confirmed in a news release Friday. Officials have not yet identified any remains or confirmed the number of deceased victims, but sheriff's office spokesperson Lt. Don Hartman previously told the Chronicle he is fairly certain that 'more than one' person had been killed based on the evidence collected so far.
Recovery efforts by investigators, coroner personnel and fire crews will continue throughout the weekend, the news release added. Once all remains are recovered, teams will employ rapid DNA testing to identify those killed in the blast.
On Saturday, recovery teams began disposing of explosives and removing other hazardous materials from the site, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff's office.
Among the others missing are brothers and warehouse employees Joel 'Jr' Melendez, 28, Johnny Ramos, 22, and Jesus Maneces Ramos, 18, who had just begun his first day at work. A GoFundMe page was set up for Melendez's pregnant wife, Maria, and their 11-month-old son.
The warehouse belonged to Devastating Pyrotechnics, according to a joint statement by officials from Marysville, Yuba City, and Sutter and Yuba counties. Federal regulators previously denied the company's owner and CEO — 48-year-old Kenneth Chee of San Francisco — the licenses necessary to acquire and possess firearms.
The origin and cause of the blast is under investigation by arson and bomb personnel from Cal Fire. Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, previously told the Chronicle that explosions of commercial grade fireworks, though extremely rare, are generally caused by human error.
Devastating Pyrotechnics released a statement Wednesday saying that the company will 'cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation.'
'Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community,' the statement continued. 'We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel. Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy.'
The county has provided impacted families with hotel and food vouchers, as well as access to counseling services, said Yolo County Supervisor Angel Barajas, who represents the district where the explosion occurred.
'Our priority is the families (and) making sure they're comfortable during this investigation,' Barajas said at a news conference Thursday. 'We share our thoughts and prayers with everybody involved in this tragic accident.'
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