Latest news with #BlackstarFireworks
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Yolo County supervisors request DOJ probe into deadly Esparto fireworks explosion
Citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors sent a letter Friday to the California Department of Justice, requesting it to assist the investigation into the deadly fireworks explosion that killed seven people in the Yolo County community of Esparto on July 1. The board wrote that while Cal Fire's Office of the State Fire Marshal has led the investigation, the involvement of two Yolo County Sheriff's Office employees who own the property where the explosion occurred has fueled public concern over the integrity of the process. Cal Fire has received assistance in the investigation from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA) and local agencies like the Yolo County District Attorney's office and sheriff's office. "While we do not question the ability and integrity of the District Attorney to support the CAL FIRE and CAL OSHA investigations, ensuring the public's confidence in the investigation and outcomes is of critical importance to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and our community," the letter said. The Esparto property was owned by Sheriff's Lieutenant Sam Machado and his wife, who works in an administrative role in the sheriff's office. Both have since been placed on administrative leave. The site was also tied to two pyrotechnics companies, Blackstar Fireworks and Devastating Pyrotechnics, whose business licenses listed the same address where the incident occurred. The state fire marshal has since suspended the pyrotechnics licenses of Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, and Craig Cutright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks and a volunteer firefighter with the Esparto Fire Department. The letter states that Yolo County Sheriff Tom Lopez and District Attorney Jeff Reisig also support the request. The DOJ has not yet publicly responded.
San Francisco Chronicle
08-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Deadly Yolo County explosion: Family of those killed search for answers as investigation continues
Yolo County officials on Monday said they were still working to identify the seven individuals whose remains were found at the site of a fireworks warehouse that exploded last week. Officials expected to have the victims' identities confirmed within the next 48 hours, Yolo County Undersheriff Matt Davis said Monday at a news conference. Authorities continued searching the facility Monday, although Davis said investigators don't believe there are more victims. 'We're going to make sure with every available resource that no stone is left unturned and there are no individuals still left on site,' Davis said. Several family members have identified their loved ones as among the missing, and other relatives have expressed frustration over the lack of official information from authorities. No further details about the ongoing investigation, which is being led by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, were released. Two companies at the property, Devastating Pyrotechnics and Blackstar Fireworks, had state fireworks licenses, according to a Cal Fire spokesperson. The state fire marshal 'will verify if the licensee was operating within the licensing requirements,' according to the spokesperson. But the head of Devastating Pyrotechnics, 48-year-old Kenneth Chee, was denied a federal license to acquire or possess fireworks for reasons that weren't immediately clear, according to interviews and a Chronicle review of public records. The explosion last Tuesday collapsed the fireworks warehouse in the rural community of Esparto, about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento. The blast also ignited a 78-acre fire, prompting evacuations. As they await official confirmation, people whose family members remain missing after the explosion created GoFundMe pages to help the surviving relatives with funeral costs as well as transportation, child care and other needs in the wake of lost income. One verified fundraising page identified Jhony and Jesus Ramos as two brothers who disappeared after the explosion. Jesus Ramos, an 18-year-old expecting father, was working his first day on the job when the explosion happened, according to the fundraiser. Other verified GoFundMe pages identified Carlos Rodriguez and Joel 'Jr.' Melendez among the missing. According to the fundraisers, Rodriguez was a husband and father; Melendez was the main provider for his pregnant wife and their 11-month-old son. A Facebook post by CWC Life, a Christian church in Manteca (San Joaquin County), identified Angel Voller as one of the victims 'who tragically passed away in the Yolo County fire and explosion.' An Instagram post by Venture Academy Family of Schools in Stockton identified Voller as a former star baseball player, who had been named Pitcher of the Year by the California Collegiate Athletic Association. 'Angel was a fierce competitor and the most loyal friend and teammate you could ever ask for,' the school wrote in a post. 'Angel's impact on our program, his presence and his infectious smile will never be forgotten.'
