Hundreds of residents are experiencing power outages, with seven individuals still unaccounted for following a severe explosion at a fireworks plant in Yolo County, California, on Tuesday evening.
The explosion, occurring just before 6 p.m. local time, resulted in injuries to at least two people at the commercial fireworks storage site in Esparto.
In a news briefing on Wednesday, Esparto Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence reported that firefighters first entered the premises but had to withdraw due to “the seriousness and potential dangers present.”
“Our agency, being here in the local in a small community, we are primarily volunteer agencies,” Lawrence said. “I would be remiss if I didn’t add that I’m really thankful and proud of all of our responders that stepped up yesterday, and even today, and came out here. … We appreciate all the responders and the mutual aid partners that came and assisted us.”
A large plume of smoke rose from a fireworks building in Yolo County, Calif., on Tuesday. (CAL Fire)
CAL FIRE confirmed the building was owned by an active pyrotechnic license holder, though the owner’s identity has not yet been released.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal, which is leading the investigation, sent an arson and bomb investigation team to the area, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s office.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 78.3 acres had burned with 0% containment, according to CAL FIRE.
Officials have not yet released the cause of the fire.
