Arrests Made in Deadly Esparto Fireworks Blast

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Law enforcement officials in Yolo County have made multiple arrests this week in connection with a massive fireworks warehouse explosion in the small farming community of Esparto last July that claimed the lives of seven people. Eight suspects, including the owners of pyrotechnics companies that stored illegal fireworks at the facility and two former Yolo County Sheriff's Office employees who owned the property, face felony charges related to the incident.

Why it matters

The Esparto fireworks explosion highlighted the dangers of illegal fireworks operations and the need for stronger oversight and regulation of the pyrotechnics industry, especially in rural areas. The tragedy also raised questions about the role of local officials in allowing these dangerous activities to continue unchecked for years prior to the fatal blast.

The details

The explosion took place on the evening of July 1, 2025, razing the area around the storage facility and sparking a 78-acre wildfire. A state fire marshal investigation determined that 'illegal fireworks operations' were the cause of the explosion. The eight suspects arrested this week include Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, which stored illegal fireworks at the facility; Jack Lee and Gary Chan Jr., both formerly employed by Devastating Pyrotechnics; husband and wife Samuel and Tammy Machado, who owned the warehouse and were employed by the Yolo County Sheriff's Office at the time of the explosion; and Craig Cutright, who owned a different pyrotechnic company that stored fireworks at the facility and served as a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire District.

• The explosion occurred on the evening of July 1, 2025.
• The evacuation order and area road closures were lifted on July 18, 2025.
• The state fire marshal investigation determined the cause of the explosion in late March 2026.
• The arrests were made this week in April 2026.

What’s next

The Yolo County District Attorney's Office will continue to prosecute the eight suspects, with Samuel Machado being held without bail and the others facing a range of felony charges.