An explosion occurred at a warehouse in California that was storing fireworks on Tuesday. The incident resulted in a fireball rising into the sky, scattering debris, and igniting pyrotechnics above the location, as confirmed by officials and observed in scene footage.
The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said the warehouse, near the Esparto area northwest of Sacramento, exploded and was actively burning.
It was not immediately clear whether there were injuries.
“We strongly advise everyone to steer clear of the vicinity to allow fire crews and emergency personnel to perform their duties safely,” stated the sheriff’s office via social media. “An evacuation zone of one mile has been established around the area.”
Firefighters responded to the area just before 6 p.m., NBC affiliate KCRA of Sacramento reported.
Helicopter footage provided by KCRA revealed fires throughout the site, with at least one structure engulfed in flames and fireworks shooting into the sky before erupting.
The video shows white smoke rushing from inside the building out through the roof before a large explosion and fireball, with many airbursts from fireworks.
The cause of the fire and explosion was unknown Tuesday night, the sheriff’s office said.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said it was responding to the commercial and vegetation fire in Yolo County.
Esparto is a community of around 3,000 almost 30 miles northwest of Sacramento.
The explosion happened near the border between Esparto and Madison, which lies to the east, the sheriff’s office said.
