The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on July 5 that the remains of all seven individuals missing from the explosion at a fireworks facility in Esparto on July 1 had been located within the debris. Photo courtesy of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office

 

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - An explosion at a fireworks facility in Esparto on July 1 destroyed a major stockpile of pyrotechnics and left seven people missing, prompting widespread cancellations and changes to Fourth of July celebrations across Northern California.

Among the events affected was the Yuba–Sutter Fireworks Show, a regional tradition that draws thousands to Beckwourth Riverfront Park in Marysville. Originally scheduled for July 4, the show was postponed to Saturday, July 5, allowing organizers time to pivot to a new fireworks provider.

“We have a connection to that and that connection is the seven people that are missing. Many of those are actually the men that put on our fireworks display for the last several years since we brought it back,” said Yuba City Mayor Dave Shaw during a public address at the annual Yuba City Bike Parade.

Shaw led a moment of silence and prayer for the victims before continuing with the local festivities on the morning of July 4.

The July 1 explosion occurred at a facility in Esparto used by Devastating Pyrotechnics, a company contracted to handle multiple fireworks shows across the state.

The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on July 5 that the remains of all seven individuals had been located within the debris.

Among the reported victims were three brothers, 18-year-old Jesus Maneces Ramos, 22-year-old Johnny Ramos, and 28-year-old Joel “Junior” Melendez, who were working together at the facility when the blast occurred.

Their deaths, confirmed by family members and reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and KCRA, have drawn widespread sympathy and support from the community.

Other victims identified included Carlos Javier Rodriguez, 41, and Angel Voller. Neil Lee, reported to be the general manager of Devastating Pyrotechnics, was also among those killed, according to KCRA.

As of July 6, authorities confirmed that the remains of all seven missing individuals had been recovered, although two victims have yet to be publicly identified pending official DNA confirmation.

The facility, located at 27020 County Road 19A in rural Yolo County, has since come under scrutiny for lacking proper operating permits. According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle published July 3, officials with the California State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed that no valid permits had been issued for the site.

According to Yolo County officials, the five-acre parcel is privately owned by Sam Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.

The land is zoned Agricultural Intensive (A-N) and had only been authorized for agricultural storage. Despite this, two pyrotechnics companies—Devastating Pyrotechnics and BlackStar Fireworks—were operating at the site without a required conditional use permit.

Among the personnel tied to these companies was Craig Cutright, the owner of BlackStar Fireworks and an employee of Devastating Pyrotechnics. Additionally, Cutright served as a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire Protection District but he has since been let go following the explosion. This involvement has prompted further questions on regulatory oversight and potential conflicts of interest. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

Several high-profile shows were canceled as a result of the explosion, including those in Lodi, Chico, Cloverdale, St. Helena, and the El Dorado County Fair’s Family Blast.

The Stockton 99 Speedway also scrapped its show. Organizers in San Jose confirmed that their events would continue with modifications, while Rancho Cordova's Fourth of July celebration remained unaffected.

In a separate decision, the Incline Village 2025 Fireworks Show on Lake Tahoe was canceled due to storm damage.

In response to the tragedy, the cities of Marysville and Yuba City, along with Sutter County, issued a joint statement rescheduling the local fireworks event to July 5 and announcing a new provider, Pyro Spectaculars, would take over the show.

“This decision was made after thoughtful discussion and out of respect for those impacted by the explosion in Yolo County,” the release stated. “Our hearts remain with the community of Esparto, the County of Yolo, those harmed, their families, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.”

Despite the somber tone of the weekend, attendees at the July 5 night show said the display was well executed and appreciated the effort by organizers to ensure the celebration could continue safely.