7 Bodies Found After California Fireworks Warehouse Blast

Authorities in Northern California announced on Saturday that they found the bodies of seven people who went missing last week after a deadly explosion at a fireworks warehouse.

Newsweek has reached out to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department for comment via email on Sunday.

Why It Matters

The update comes the day after Yolo County authorities confirmed that human remains were located at the Oakdale Fire site, following an explosion on Tuesday.

On July 1, a fire at an Esparto, California, pyrotechnics facility sparked the 78-acre Oakdale Fire which took several lives and destroyed nearby homes and buildings. The fire led to the postponement of nearby July 4 firework celebrations, including San Jose’s.

What To Know

An explosion at a warehouse operated by Devastating Pyrotechnics set fire to nearby buildings and acres around 6 p.m. Tuesday. The blaze has since been extinguished, but the cause of the explosion has not been confirmed.

For days, several people had been reported missing following the explosion, including three brothers.

“The Coroner’s Office has been in contact with the families of those previously reported missing and will continue to provide them with timely updates as information becomes available,” the sheriff’s department said in a July 4 update after locating human remains onsite.

In a Saturday Facebook post, the sheriff’s office announced a “controlled explosive disposal at the Oakdale Fire site,” which it said was to be conducted by “authorized personnel” in coordination with “CAL FIRE, the ATF National Response Team, and regional bomb squad partners to safely remove hazardous materials identified at the scene.”

The post noted that all safety protocols are in place and there is no public threat.

“Crews are continuing to mitigate explosive hazards present at the scene,” county officials said in a Sunday statement obtained by the Associated Press.

Marisol Ramos told CBS Sacramento that the coroner’s office phoned her with the news that her two sons, Jesus Ramos, 18, and Jhony Ramos, 22, and their stepbrother, Junior Melendez, 28, are among the dead.

Melendez’s wife, Maria, is pregnant and has a 11-month-old son. An online fundraiser has raised over $20,000 for their family as of Sunday.

Another individual, Carlos Rodriguez, was identified as missing since the fire in a GoFundMe started by a family member, and CWC Life, a church in Manteca, wrote in a July 3 Facebook post that the community is “heart broken at the news of the passing of one of our sons Angel Voller, who tragically passed away in the Yolo County fire and explosion.”

What People Are Saying

Devastating Pyrotechnics issued a statement on Wednesday: “Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel. Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation.”

Jhony Ramos Sr. told CBS News: “I lost two of my kids, my sons. I ask for justice.”

Jerlena Nolan-Butler, whose niece is married to Carlos Rodriguez, wrote in an online fundraiser: “The coroner contacted Tiffany, informing her that they’ve located the remains of all 7 missing persons from the Esparto Fireworks Warehouse Explosion. Now, they’ll proceed with DNA processing, and we can expect results early next week. Thank you for wrapping Tiffany and the kids in your thoughts and prayers. Your love and support mean the world!”

What Happens Next?

The coroner’s office is still working to identify the remains and plans to use DNA testing.