ARE WAITING. ANSWERS. IF YOU ALL SAW WHAT YOU KNOW, WE ALL SAW THAT ON THE NEWS. IT WAS LIKE, HOW IS HOW ARE THEY NOT AT LEAST SAYING, HEY, THE CHANCES ARE VERY SLIM. DARLENE SANCHEZ, FRUSTRATED OVER WHAT SHE DESCRIBES AS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM OFFICIALS AFTER A FIREWORKS FACILITY CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED ON TUESDAY AND ESPARTA. DARLENE SAYS HER BEST FRIEND’S HUSBAND, CARLOS JAVIER RODRIGUEZ, IS ONE OF THE SEVEN PEOPLE WHO IS MISSING. HE’S A DEVOTED FATHER, YOU KNOW, A 41 YEAR OLD MAN WHO WORKS HARD, PROVIDES FOR HIS FAMILY. HE’S A HUSBAND, A DAD, A, YOU KNOW, AN UNCLE, A BROTHER, A BEST FRIEND. DARLENE SAYS CARLOS’S FAMILY IS GRIEVING, AND THEY’VE ACCEPTED THAT HE DIDN’T SURVIVE. THERE’S NOTHING LEFT. AND IT’S BEEN MORE THAN 24 HOURS, SO. AND I KNOW HIM THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY. HE WOULD HAVE CALLED BY NOW. HE WOULD HAVE SOMEHOW FOUND A WAY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE WORLD, LIKE, HEY, I’M HERE. CAL FIRE IS TAKING THE LEAD ON THE INVESTIGATION AND HAS NOT RELEASED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE IDENTITIES OF THE SEVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE MISSING. THERE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S NOT THE COMMUNICATION THAT EVERYBODY WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO HEAR. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE DOING OUR BEST WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AND THE INFORMATION THAT THAT WE CAN FEASIBLY SHARE. CAL FIRE SAYS IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO GET INTO THE SITE BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF EXPLOSIVES STORED AT THE FACILITY. EXCLUSIVE IMAGES FROM LIVECOPTER3 SHOWED A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION AS FIRE CREWS ENTERED THE BLAST SITE AROUND 6:30 P.M., HOSING DOWN PART OF THE FACILITY. IT’S A VERY COMPLEX AND ONGOING INCIDENT THAT HAS NOT COMPLETELY TERMINATED OR MITIGATED, SO WE’RE GOING TO KEEP THE PUBLIC AND OUR RESPONDERS SAFETY IN THE UTMOST REGARD THROUGHOUT THIS INCIDENT. DARLENE DEMANDING OFFICIALS RELEASE MORE INFORMATION. THERE ARE SIX OTHER FAMILIES THAT ARE GRIEVING AND HAVE LOST LOVED ONES THAT YOU KNOW, WE WANT ANSWERS FOR NOW, DARLENE SAYS CARLOS’S FAMILY WILL REMEMBER HIM THROUGH HIS HUMOR. HE IS VERY LOUD. HE WAS FUNNY. HE WAS A GOOD GUY. SO DARLENE DID LET ME KNOW THAT THEY’RE EXPECTED TO MEET WITH THE CORONER’S OFFICE TOMORROW. AND OF COURSE, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE CARLOS FAMILY. NOW, AS FOR THE VICTIMS, THE REST OF THE SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE, THE YOLO COUNTY. DID RELEASE THE THE VICTIMS. THE VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PLETHORA OF SERVICES THAT WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE SEVEN UNACCOUNTED FOR PEOPLE, WHICH INCLUDE THINGS LIKE COUNSELING FOR THEM AS WELL.
Officials are maintaining a large perimeter around the site of Tuesday’s fireworks facility explosion in Esparto, citing ongoing hazards and the need to preserve the scene for an investigation, which is being treated as a potential crime scene.Seven individuals remain unaccounted for, and their families are pressing for clearer communication. “We all saw that on the news — how were they not at least saying, ‘Hey, the chances are very slim?’” asked Darlene Sanchez, a friend of one of the missing individuals.Sanchez’s best friend’s husband, Carlos Javier Rodriguez, 41, is among those presumed lost. “He’s a devoted father, a hardworking man, a husband, dad, uncle, and best friend,” Sanchez said. She shared with KCRA that the family has come to terms with the grim reality. “There’s nothing left, and it’s been more than 24 hours. He would have found a way to let us know if he were alive,” Sanchez said.Cal Fire is leading the investigation but has yet to release the identities of the missing, citing safety concerns at the wreckage site due to the magnitude of explosives stored there.MORE | What we know about the Esparto fireworks facility explosionCurtis Lawrence, the fire chief for the Esparto Fire Protection District, addressed the public during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.“There has been communication with family, not the communication everybody would want, but we’re doing our best with the information we have,” Lawrence said. Exclusive footage from Live Copter 3 showed fire crews entering the blast site around 6:30 p.m. and actively working to secure the area, a brand new development in the investigation. Officials reiterated the complex nature of the incident and the priority of keeping the public and emergency responders safe. On Wednesday night, they shared that the area is still considered hazardous.“There’s six other families grieving and wanting answers,” Sanchez said. As she and Carlos’ family mourn the assumed loss of the man they love, they recall his humor and dedication. “He was loud, funny, and a good guy who did his best at everything,” Sanchez said.The family is scheduled to meet with the coroner’s office on Thursday as the investigation unfolds.The Yolo County District Attorney Victim Services Program is available with a myriad of services it can provide to the family members of the seven individuals who remain unaccounted for. A contact number for the Yolo County Victim Services Program is 530-666-8352.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
ESPARTO, Calif. —Officials are maintaining a large perimeter around the site of Tuesday’s fireworks facility explosion in Esparto, citing ongoing hazards and the need to preserve the scene for an investigation, which is being treated as a potential crime scene.
Seven individuals remain unaccounted for, and their families are pressing for clearer communication.
“We all saw that on the news — how were they not at least saying, ‘Hey, the chances are very slim?’” asked Darlene Sanchez, a friend of one of the missing individuals.
Sanchez’s best friend’s husband, Carlos Javier Rodriguez, 41, is among those presumed lost.
“He’s a devoted father, a hardworking man, a husband, dad, uncle, and best friend,” Sanchez said.
She shared with KCRA that the family has come to terms with the grim reality.
“There’s nothing left, and it’s been more than 24 hours. He would have found a way to let us know if he were alive,” Sanchez said.
Cal Fire is leading the investigation but has yet to release the identities of the missing, citing safety concerns at the wreckage site due to the magnitude of explosives stored there.
MORE | What we know about the Esparto fireworks facility explosion
Curtis Lawrence, the fire chief for the Esparto Fire Protection District, addressed the public during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
“There has been communication with family, not the communication everybody would want, but we’re doing our best with the information we have,” Lawrence said.
Exclusive footage from Live Copter 3 showed fire crews entering the blast site around 6:30 p.m. and actively working to secure the area, a brand new development in the investigation.
Officials reiterated the complex nature of the incident and the priority of keeping the public and emergency responders safe. On Wednesday night, they shared that the area is still considered hazardous.
“There’s six other families grieving and wanting answers,” Sanchez said.
As she and Carlos’ family mourn the assumed loss of the man they love, they recall his humor and dedication.
“He was loud, funny, and a good guy who did his best at everything,” Sanchez said.
The family is scheduled to meet with the coroner’s office on Thursday as the investigation unfolds.
The Yolo County District Attorney Victim Services Program is available with a myriad of services it can provide to the family members of the seven individuals who remain unaccounted for. A contact number for the Yolo County Victim Services Program is 530-666-8352.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
