California fire marshal suspends pyrotechnic licenses tied to deadly Esparto explosion
The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced Tuesday that it has suspended the pyrotechnic licenses of two people tied to the deadly fireworks explosion at a Northern California facility on July 1.
Those who had their licenses suspended were Devastating Pyrotechnics owner and CEO Kenneth Chee and Craig Cutright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks.
Cutright is also a volunteer firefighter with the Esparto Fire Department. BlackStar Fireworks and Devastating Pyrotechnics' business licenses both had the same listed address, which was the site of the explosion.
Cal Fire's OSFM is leading the investigation to determine the origin and cause of the explosion that killed 7 workers at the facility in the Yolo County community of Esparto.
"While our Arson & Bomb Investigators have completed their evidence collection from the explosion site, the investigation remains very active," State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant said. "We continue to remain laser-focused on this investigation as the family and the community deserve answers. The effort to find the cause can take time, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide a thorough and accurate investigation."
Chee's home in San Francisco was raided by law enforcement a week ago. Berlant sat down for last week but did not say what investigators were searching for.
The search warrant served at Chee's home was one of "a number of search warrants carried out" in connection with the Esparto explosion, Berlant said.
Chee's attorney released a statement after that search stating that his client was innocent of any wrongdoing.
The Esparto Fire Department has since placed Cutright on leave.
Berlant also noted to CBS Sacramento that "there are a lot of red flags in this incident." He expanded on that by referencing stringent California laws and federal regulations for storing fireworks.
Cal Fire said it could not provide further specific details on the investigation.
on Wednesday, detailing his agency's role in the investigation and adding that he remains fully committed to supporting the state fire marshal's investigation.
Lopez said he responded to the Esparto scene "within an hour of the explosion" and "was involved in briefings from the outset." Lopez added that he instructed his leadership team to focus on emergency response and not the investigative process.
"Once CAL FIRE was designated as the lead agency, in the interest of unified command and consistent communication, I decided to defer all media inquiries and public messaging to their team. This was done to avoid confusion and ensure a single, accurate source of information in a multi-agency, involved investigation. Still, some may have perceived we were inaccessible – our intent was, is, and continues to be full support of the investigative process and respect for the lead agency's role," Lopez said in his statement.
Lopez then detailed how his agency supported Cal Fire's investigation, which included drafting and executing search warrants, like the one at Chee's home, and the coroner's division identifying the bodies of the seven people killed.
He also addressed Yolo County Sheriff's Lieutenant Sam Machado being listed as the owner of the Esparto property. Machado's home was destroyed in the explosion.
Machado and his wife, who works in an administrative role with the sheriff's office, have since been placed on administrative leave, Lopez said.
"This action does not imply wrongdoing, but it is a standard measure to help ensure an impartial and fair investigative process," he said. "We understand the community's desire for answers and accountability. Please know we share that commitment."
