LA raid of fireworks tied to investigation of deadly July 1 explosion in Esparto

Joe Rubin and Daniel Lempres, The Sacramento Bee on Oct 27, 2025

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An investigation into the deadly July 1 fireworks explosion in Esparto led authorities to discover a cache of fireworks at a property in East Los Angeles on Monday, prompting the evacuation of a neighborhood and a nearby high school.

The search was conducted by the Arson and Bomb Unit of Cal Fire’s Office of the State Fire Marshal, alongside the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also participated, according to authorities.

The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office confirmed it was assisting Monday’s operation as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into the Esparto explosion that killed seven workers and leveled a rural property in Yolo County.

Authorities said they confiscated hazardous materials requiring the expertise of bomb squads and fire hazmat teams, according to Cal Fire. The raid took place in the 400 block of Vancouver Avenue in East Los Angeles, several blocks from Garfield High School. Both the school and neighborhood were evacuated as a safety precaution, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, which was not part of Monday’s action.

Monday’s operation comes nearly four months after the blast in Esparto that killed seven workers believed to be preparing fireworks for the Fourth of July holiday in a building operated by Devastating Pyrotechnics. The explosion destroyed multiple structures on the property and scattered debris across surrounding farmland.

State and federal authorities have yet to charge anyone in connection with the deadly blast and officials have not yet determined the cause of the explosion.

Devastating Pyrotechnics did not hold a valid state license to manufacture fireworks but marketed itself as a producer in bids and promotional materials. The company’s founder, Kenneth Chee, had prior felony convictions and was barred from holding federal explosives permits. State officials revoked multiple licenses connected to Devastating and another firm on the Esparto site, BlackStar Fireworks, following the explosion.

The compound was located on property owned by Yolo County Sheriff’s Lt. Sam Machado and his wife. The Esparto Fire Protection District had approved building permits for structures later destroyed in the blast. Both agencies recused themselves from the investigation.

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