Particle.news

Yolo County Declares Emergency as DNA Testing Begins on Esparto Blast Victims

Yolo County seeks assistance from state, federal agencies to support recovery, investigation efforts following the July 1 explosion.

Overview

  • The Yolo County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency Tuesday to request state and federal support for disaster response, investigative, financial and other assistance.
  • The county coroner’s office initiated rapid DNA testing Monday to confirm the identities of seven remains recovered from the Devastating Pyrotechnics warehouse site.
  • Recovery crews, CAL FIRE bomb squads and ATF teams have carried out controlled explosive disposals and burn-off operations to secure unexploded fireworks and clear hazards.
  • The Office of the State Fire Marshal is leading a multi-agency investigation with CAL FIRE and the ATF to determine the explosion’s origin, cause and any regulatory violations.
  • Families have expressed frustration over delayed updates as officials maintain safety perimeters, citing ongoing hazard mitigation at the charred Oakdale Fire site.