Seven people have been arrested in connection with a deadly fireworks warehouse explosion in Northern California that killed seven people and injured two others last July.
The explosion occurred near the rural community of Esparto in Yolo County, triggering a massive fire and forcing the cancellation of nearby Fourth of July celebrations.
According to authorities, several of those arrested are facing murder charges. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office is expected to formally announce indictments in the case.
Among those arrested are Samuel Machado and Tammy Machado, who owned the warehouse where the explosion took place. At the time of the incident, Samuel Machado was serving as a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, while Tammy Machado worked in an administrative role. Both were placed on leave following the incident.
Kenneth Chee, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, whose illegal fireworks were allegedly stored at the warehouse, was arrested in Florida and is expected to be extradited to California.
Authorities also detained Jack Lee, the operations manager of Devastating Pyrotechnics, and Gary Chan Jr., whose name appears on the company’s federal license.
Another individual arrested is Craig Cutright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks, which operated at the Esparto property. Cutright was also a volunteer firefighter with the local fire district and had links to the fireworks company involved.
Additionally, Ronald Botelho III, an employee connected to the operation, has already been in custody since December. New charges were recently filed against him.
Investigators say the explosion was linked to the storage of illegal fireworks at the site. The incident caused widespread damage and raised concerns about safety regulations and enforcement in the handling of explosive materials.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue legal proceedings against those involved.
