Esparto fatal explosion has cost Yolo County $1.7M, exacerbated budget problems
Two Yolo County supervisors expressed frustration Tuesday over the cost of the explosion of a fireworks facility in Esparto as they struggled to balance the budget.
An explosion July 1 leveled a warehouse storing fireworks owned by BlackStar Fireworks and Devastating Pyrotechnics. Seven people died as a 78-acre fire spread from the warehouse, on land owned by a Yolo County sheriff’s lieutenant and his wife, who also works as a civilian for the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.
The deadly incident came as Yolo County Board of Supervisors worked over the past few months to balance a $39.6 million budget deficit and now must contend with unplanned and increasing costs. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved shifting dollars from different pots of revenue to help cover costs totaling about $1.7 million associated with the explosion.
“It’s very frustrating to me. That’s something that could have been prevented,” said Supervisor Sheila Allen, while adding accidents happen, but “that is such a huge cost to our county.”
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office requested $963,932 to help hire five new investigators to backfill employees who were diverted away from their regular duties to investigate the explosion. The costs will also help cover extra help for attorneys who may potentially convene a grand jury or explore another avenue of prosecution, said Nikki Abaurrea, the District Attorney’s chief fiscal officer.
She added this money helps to cover expenditures for one year, and the District Attorney’s Office could be back to request more funds. The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office had recused itself from investigating the incident, according to previous Sacramento Bee reporting.
An extra $750,000 has also been budgeted, said Tom Haynes, the county’s chief financial officer. The total $1.7 million stemmed from money once meant to flow to the general reserve, he added.
Supervisor Lucas Frerichs also voiced his frustration over the county shouldering these hefty costs. Supervisors approved keeping open positions unfilled and agreed to revisit cutting other services.
The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office recused itself from investigating any potential criminal activity in connection to the explosion because its own employees were involved. California Attorney General’s Office declined to take over investigating and prosecuting the case. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office has since conducted an inquiry. It has also served a search warrant to seize devices and search the home of Esparto Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence, who has close ties to the business that owned the fireworks.
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig urged the state’s Department of Justice to become lead investigators on the case to avoid potential conflicts of interest and the heavy case load, according to previous Bee reporting.
The county is currently exploring all options to recoup funds related to the incident, including staff time, said county spokesperson Laura Galindo.
“The extent of recovery will depend on the resources of the landowners, fireworks companies, and their insurers,” Galindo wrote in an email. “However, it is important to note that some costs such as investigation expenses, may be legally difficult or impossible to recover.”
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM.
