The California government announced on Wednesday (July 2) that an explosion at a fireworks factory in a rural area in northern California sparked a massive fire, resulting in two injuries and seven people missing.
According to reports from Reuters, the explosion occurred in the Esparto area of Yolo County, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Sacramento, the capital of California.
Aerial footage from the scene showed a warehouse-style large building exploding on Tuesday evening, with a huge fireball soaring into the sky accompanied by a loud bang.
Thick black smoke billowed from the site, followed by several smaller explosions overhead.
Jason Clay, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, stated that the fire caused by the explosion destroyed approximately 78 acres (32 hectares) of vegetation in the surrounding area.
Curtis Lawrence, the Fire Chief of the Esparto Fire District, told reporters at a press briefing about 24 hours after the incident that two people were injured in the initial explosion and had received treatment, while seven others remained missing.
The incident occurred on the eve of the Fourth of July celebrations in the United States, which typically include fireworks displays.
Lawrence mentioned that the California Fire Department is conducting an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Authorities reported that explosions were still heard sporadically at the scene until Wednesday night, and firefighters were continuing to assess the ongoing risks posed by the fireworks at the site, maintaining a safe distance from the explosion site with firefighters and other emergency responders.
Rescue teams are using aircraft and drones to search for the missing individuals in the area and monitor the potential risks. Lawrence did not disclose the identities of the missing individuals but confirmed that there were no casualties among firefighters or other emergency personnel.
“I have never seen a situation like this,” Lawrence said.
When asked how authorities would determine when it is safe to enter the site, he stated, “It’s difficult to provide a definitive answer as to when it will be safe and what it will look like.”
He mentioned that evacuation zones have been set up around the site, affecting about 150 households and farms that lost power due to the incident.
Lawrence also stated that the explosion site belonged to a licensed fireworks company, which included selling fireworks for public displays. However, it is currently unclear whether the site was a factory for manufacturing fireworks or only a warehouse for storing them.