Yolo County fireworks explosion: 1 dead, several people missing after California warehouse erupts
At least one person was killed by the blast, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the situation, though it was not clear if that person was among the seven reported missing by Cal Fire.
First responders and investigators were working with the property's owner and monitoring the area using aircraft systems to find the individuals, according to a Cal Fire statement Wednesday.
Videos and photos reviewed by the Chronicle show a scene of rubble and debris, with shrapnel scattered around the flattened site.
It was not immediately clear if the missing individuals worked at the warehouse or lived in the area.
A joint statement by officials from Marysville, Yuba City as well as Sutter and Yuba counties later confirmed the warehouse belonged to Devastating Pyrotechnics. The company's website appeared to be nonoperational Wednesday afternoon.
The blast occurred at around 6 p.m. Tuesday in the rural community of Esparto, 40 miles northwest of Sacramento, and led to the building's collapse, according to the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. A blaze soon broke out, which Cal Fire termed Oakdale Fire, and quickly spread into nearby vegetation along Highway 16 and Oakdale Ranch Lane. Smoke plumes from the fire appeared to reach over 15,000 feet in elevation.
In an afternoon press briefing, Esparto Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence said two people were injured and received medical care. Lawrence did not comment whether the victims worked at the facility.
Officials said the area remained under an evacuation order Wednesday afternoon.
The cause of the explosion was under investigation, authorities said, and their investigation will look into whether operations within the facility complied with license requirements.
Officials in nearby Sutter and Yuba counties announced Wednesday that they were exploring alternatives for Fourth of July celebrations after their fireworks were destroyed in the blast.
Matthias Gafni contributed to this report.
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