Fireworks Company Responsible for Deadly Blast in Esparto, CA, Fined $221K

Five months after a series of explosions cost the lives of seven workers in the small farming town of Esparto, the company that operated the dangerous fireworks operation, Devastating Pyrotechnics has been hit with steep fines.

Responding to a request from The Bee, the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal-OSHA, revealed it found 15 serious violations totalling $221,000 in fines, which it issued to the company December 1.

The citations offer a glimmer of accountability and new information about the deadly incident, suggesting the fire began in a warehouse, and then ignited multiple explosions.

“No one should ever have to fear for their safety when they go to work, and no family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to a preventable tragedy,” Cal-OSHA spokesperson Denisse Gomez said in a statement “Incidents like this remind us just how critical strong workplace safety practices are, especially in environments where hazards can have catastrophic consequences. Our hearts go out to the workers, families, and entire Esparto community.”

According to multiple sources familiar with how Devastating Pyrotechnics operated, including several family members of perished workers, the company existed outside normal legal parameters, paying workers in cash and taking few safety precautions.

The 15 citations ranged from a failure to “establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and Illness program,” to a citation about fire extinguishers that stated, “fire extinguishers were present at the worksite where pyrotechnic materials were handled and stored, yet employees had not received any instruction on how or when to use them.” Devastating Pyrotechnics owner Kenneth Chee invoked his Fifth Amendment Rights against self-incrimination, and declined to answer questions posed by Cal-OSHA during an interview.

That lack of cooperation was noted in the 32-page notice issued to Devastating Pyrotechnics by Cal OSHA Compliance Officer David Hornung and Sacramento District Manager Joey Crocker. The notice stated, “Due to your refusal to cooperate fully in this investigation, the Division reserves the right to issue future citations based on evidence or documentation you have refused to provide.”

While it’s unusual in most OSHA cases for employers to refuse to answer questions about accidents, Chee’s criminal attorney, Douglas Horngrad said, “the distinction here is that Mr. Chee is under investigation for criminal charges in Yolo County. “ Horngrad noted that he is not representing Chee in Cal-OSHA’s civil proceedings.

It’s not clear whether Yolo County Deputy Sheriff Lt. Sam Machado, who received rent payments from the fireworks company which for years operated on his property, cooperated with Cal-OSHA’s investigation.

Cal-OSHA spokesperson Erika Monterroza declined to say whether the agency spoke to Machado.

The warehouse on Machado’s property was constructed n 2023 and was approved for agricultural storage. But records show it lacked basic fire protection systems and was not designed for people to work inside. Machado and his representatives repeatedly told county officials during the building permit process, no hazardous materials would be stored in the building, a claim that allowed the project to bypass stricter oversight.

Cal-OSHA referenced the warehouse in its citations. “A fire ignited in a warehouse located at 18080 County Road 86A in Esparto, California. The fire caused multiple explosions and resulted in fatal injuries to seven employees who were unable to respond safely due to the lack of training and knowledge of fire prevention and emergency procedures.”

Marisol Hernandez, who lost two sons, Jhony Ramos Jr., 22, and Jesus Ramos, 18, in the explosion said she sat for interviews with a Cal-OSHA investigator and told them that one of the reasons her sons decided to take the jobs was because it was on a sheriff’s deputy’s property. Jesus Ramos had just started working at the company that day when the warehouse ignited.

“They figured everything that was happening there was 100% legal,” she said. “Now we know it was not.”

“Knowing about these fines, they help a little bit,” Hernandez added. “We are not going to stop demanding justice for our two boys, until we get justice and those truly responsible go to prison.”

Hernandez said she wants to know if Machado also “took the fifth” when interviewed by Cal-OSHA. “He is getting a big paycheck. If Machado would not even answer OSHA’s questions, that would make me really angry,” she added.

Machado, who earned $301,063 in total pay and benefits in 2024, has been on paid administrative leave since the July 1 accident, according to the Yolo County’s Sheriff.

Hernandez said she shared text messages and call logs from the day of the explosion with Cal-OSHA investigators. “The last call that we received from our kids was right about four o’clock. That was the last call. And then we keep calling them. Keep calling them. They never answer,” she said.

According to the Cal-OSHA notice, Devastating Pyrotechnics has to pay the fines or to appeal the citations within 15 business days.

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