Cal Fire task force formed after Esparto fireworks blast releases final report
A task force of law enforcement and fire officials has completed its review of legal and procedural shortcomings that contributed to lax oversight of fireworks companies operating in Esparto before the July 1 explosion that killed seven people.
The task force was convened by Cal Fire in August, about six weeks after the explosion. In January, it shared preliminary findings with Cal Fire’s longstanding General Fireworks Advisory Committee, a group composed of industry representatives and public safety officials. The state agency — formally known as the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection — then reviewed the recommendations and released a final report Thursday.
The final report makes 37 recommendations aimed at improving public safety and reducing fires and injuries caused by fireworks. Those include strengthening state laws and regulations, improving training for public safety officials and strengthening fireworks facility inspection processes.
The recommendations largely mirror the 35 proposals included in the task force’s preliminary findings.
The task force also called on lawmakers to better align state law with federal law, which bars people convicted of certain crimes from obtaining fireworks licenses. Kenneth Chee, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, the larger fireworks company operating in Esparto, had been convicted of a violent crime that barred him from holding a federal fireworks license but not a state fireworks license.
The report emphasized the importance of communication and coordination across agencies.
“Collaboration among regulators, local fire and law enforcement agencies, licensed fireworks companies, and communities is essential,” the report concluded. “By implementing these recommendations, California can reduce the risks associated with fireworks, protect first responders and the public, and prevent future tragedies.”
Cal Fire has already implemented some of the task force’s recommendations, said Cal Fire spokesperson Kayla Washington.
The task force recommended that Cal Fire check for local permits before renewing licenses, in part to “ensure that local officials are fully aware of every site where fireworks are being stored within their community.”
Cal Fire had renewed licenses listing the Esparto address for years despite the Yolo County site lacking required local permits. Cal Fire is not required to verify local permits but will now ask companies to provide proof of operational permits issued by local fire departments during license renewal, Washington said.
Since the July 1 explosion, Cal Fire has also “improved communication with all our licensees and reminded them of their statutory and regulatory requirements to safely and legally operate a fireworks business in California,” Washington said.
Cal Fire completed its investigation into the cause of the explosion and submitted its findings to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office in February.
A civil grand jury found that nearly a dozen county employees knew about the illegal fireworks operation and issued 16 recommendations to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, Department of Community Services and Sheriff’s Office.
A criminal grand jury has been impaneled by Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig’s office to investigate potential charges. The criminal investigation remains ongoing.
