Fireworks Warehouse in Yolo County, a Major Bay Area Fireworks Supplier, Goes Up in Smoke

Several Bay Area firework shows scheduled for the upcoming holiday weekend have been cancelled after a pyrotechnics warehouse in Yolo County was destroyed in a massive explosion.

The facility, which was owned and operated by the company Devastating Pyrotechnics, contained fireworks that were reserved for multiple Fourth of July celebrations across the Bay. Fireworks displays in three cities have been cancelled, although other festivities are still set to take place.

The explosion occurred near County Road 23 and County Road 86A in Esparto on Tuesday evening. It resulted in several small fires after debris and sparks from the blast landed in nearby vegetation. The fires have since been contained, and teams are working to clear the area and to locate survivors, according to Lt. Don Harmon of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.

Seven people who are believed to be employees at the facility are still missing.

In San José, the explosion forced officials to cancel a fireworks show that was supposed to take place at Lake Cunningham Park. Instead, the city will have its first-ever drone show in addition to food trucks, live performances and other activities.

“The tragedy in Yolo County has affected multiple fireworks displays across the state,” San José Councilmember Domingo Candelas said in a statement. “While we have to cancel the fireworks, the celebration is still on. …  Our hope is to still unite our community in celebration but also deter the use of illegal fireworks in our neighborhood.”

A fireworks display in Sonoma County, arranged by the Cloverdale Lion Club, was also cancelled as a result of the warehouse explosion. St. Helena in Napa County also announced that it would not be moving forward with its show.

“This incident goes well beyond any product or any show, as we know there are still individuals that are unaccounted for,” said Dave Jahns, director of community services in St. Helena. The city’s fireworks display was cancelled after the explosion destroyed its reserve of fireworks.

“Some people may be disappointed that we’re not able to move forward with fireworks,” he continued. “We just want everyone to understand that due to the circumstances and due to the tragedy at hand … we really think this is the right decision to move forward with.”

Other festivities, such as a bicycle parade and a festival with live music and food vendors, are continuing as planned, Jahns said, adding that he hopes families will come and celebrate despite the change in plans.

First responders from the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire, as well as federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are looking into what may have caused the incident. Officials with the Sheriff’s Office are calling it an active crime scene investigation.

An evacuation order was issued for the area around the warehouse, and officers are urging residents to avoid the site until investigators determine that the area is secure.

“We will try to release information as it becomes available,” Harmon said. “Our priority is to make it safe and to recover any victims.”