Fireworks Licenses Linked to Deadly Esparto, CA, Blast Revoked

In the wake of a deadly fireworks explosion that killed seven people in Esparto, Cal Fire on Friday permanently revoked the state licenses of both companies operating at the blast site, citing multiple violations and escalating its criminal investigation.

The decision came as the agency reached its statutory deadline to either return or revoke the licenses it suspended shortly after the inferno. The agency has about 30 days after a suspension to make a determination.

The two companies storing fireworks on the Esparto site, Devastating Pyrotechnics and BlackStar Fireworks, each held three licenses from Cal Fire — one to import fireworks, one to conduct public shows and one to sell fireworks in bulk.

Cal Fire’s criminal investigation, led by its Office of the State Fire Marshal and focused on the cause of the fire, remains ongoing.

The agency’s decision to revoke the licenses does not automatically mean criminal charges will be filed, but Cal Fire’s investigators found “evidence that Kenneth Chee, his company Devastating Pyrotechnics Inc., and Craig Cutright, and his company Blackstar Fireworks had violated California’s firework laws and regulations”, authorities said in a statement Friday morning.

Those violations included “not filing proper importation documents to the (state fire marshal), not reporting lost fireworks, possession of fireworks without a local fire permit, and numerous additional allegations that remain part of the criminal investigation still underway.”

Cal Fire said the violations breached provisions of the state’s Health and Safety Code and terms of the license agreements with the agency.

Cal Fire, formally known as the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, has led the investigation since the July 1 explosion that left seven workers dead and ignited the 78-acre Oakdale Fire.

The Esparto Fire Protection District and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office both recused themselves from the investigation due to conflicts of interest — the series of blasts that leveled multiple structures, including two homes, occurred on property owned by Yolo sheriff’s Lt. Sam Machado and his wife, Tammy, another Sheriff’s Office employee. Both remain on administrative leave. BlackStar, one of the two fireworks companies operating at the site, is owned by Esparto volunteer firefighter Craig Cutright, who was also placed on leave after the blasts.

Cal Fire’s investigators have been “laser focused on not only determining the circumstances leading up to the incident, but also whether or not the operators were working with their state-issued licenses,” State Fire Marshal Dan Berlant said in the statement.

The criminal portion of Cal Fire’s investigation is “making really good progress”, Berlant said in a recent interview. Questions surrounding the fire’s cause and whether anyone will be criminally charged will take longer to investigate due to the complexity of the case and Cal Fire’s determination to present Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig with a strong case for any potential criminal charges.

Cal Fire recently announced the formation of a task force focused on improvements to fireworks laws and regulations. The group’s objectives include increasing public awareness of proper procedures and raising penalties for violations.

The task force will also look for ways “to improve coordination among local, state, and federal agencies”, after Bee reporting revealed that, in line with state rules, Cal Fire repeatedly approved licenses for the Esparto site without confirming the companies had obtained local permits.