Fourth of July celebrations are being cancelled across Northern California due to safety concerns and an explosion of a local pyrotechnics facility.
Katsumi Murouchi/Getty
A deadly fireworks explosion in Yolo County has disrupted Fourth of July celebrations across Northern California, prompting a wave of cancellations and postponements from Chico to the Bay Area.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday at 6:02 p.m. at a pyrotechnics facility near Esparto, to the west of Sacramento. According to a joint news release from Cal Fire and the Esparto Fire Protection District, seven individuals remain unaccounted for, and the site is now an active crime scene.
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“Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community,” the business operating at the site, Devastating Pyrotechnics, said in a public statement. “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.”
The aftermath has left a ripple effect on cities throughout the Bay Area.
The Yuba-Sutter fireworks show was pushed to July 5 “after thoughtful discussion and out of respect for those impacted by the explosion in Yolo County,” organizers said in a statement. “Our hearts remain with the community of Esparto, the County of Yolo, those harmed, their families, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.”
In Cloverdale, the annual Chuck Sibert Pyro Spectacular was canceled altogether. In a social media statement, the Cloverdale Lions Club cited the destruction of fireworks and mourned the loss of “good people — their employers, their friends, their family.”
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In Chico, the Silver Dollar Speedway also called off its entire “Fast Cars and Freedom” event after learning its pyrotechnics had been destroyed in the blast. “We extend our condolences to those affected by this explosion and the families of the seven people still missing,” SLC Promotions said in a statement, adding that “the necessary thing to do was cancel the entire event.”
San José Mayor Matt Mahan confirmed the city’s Lake Cunningham Park fireworks show was also directly affected.
“The fireworks for the show that we were going to have here were in fact at that location,” he said during a July 2 press conference. “We are looking to source an alternative. We’re working on it as we speak.”
Despite the fireworks setback, city leaders vowed that festivities would continue.
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“We’re going to have live entertainment, food trucks, activities,” said Councilmember Domingo Candelas. “An opportunity for families to come out and enjoy a safe and healthy atmosphere right here in the east side of San José.”
San Francisco, as of now, is still having its fireworks celebration at Fisherman’s Wharf on July 4.
Further south, San José’s Almaden Lake Park fireworks show was canceled due to unrelated safety concerns. In a June 16 social media statement, Councilmember George Casey said last year’s crowd of 30,000 overwhelmed emergency response capabilities.
“There are no fiscally responsible options to mitigate the safety concerns this year,” he said. “We could not, in good conscience, simply ‘roll the dice’ and hope it all works out.”
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Other cities like Foster City canceled its fireworks show due to ongoing construction at Leo Ryan Park and reminded residents that all fireworks, including “safe and sane” ones, are banned. Meanwhile, Redwood City took a different approach this year, trading pyrotechnics for technology. Officials said they planned on ending the celebration with a “spectacular drone light show” over the Port of Redwood City. The drone display, touted as “environmentally friendly,” aims to be safer for pets, veterans and emergency responders alike.
As communities mourn the victims of the explosion and adjust their plans, one message remains clear: safety is taking center stage this Independence Day.
