The Yolo County Coroner’s Office has released the causes of death for the victims of the deadly July 1 explosion at a fireworks storage facility in Esparto.
In an email to CapRadio, Chief Deputy Coroner Gina Moya said all seven individuals died due to “multiple blast and thermal injuries.”
She also wrote the time interval was “immediate,” and the manner of their deaths was labeled an accident.
The full coroner reports, including toxicology and forensic pathology reports, are expected to be available in September.
Human remains were first located at the site of the explosion July 4, and all seven bodies were recovered three days later. The coroner’s office officially identified the seven victims July 11 as:
- Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, of San Francisco
- Neil Justin Li, 41, of San Francisco
- Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento
- Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas
- Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, of San Pablo
- Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo
- Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton
Jesus and Jhony Ramos were brothers, while Joel Melendez was identified by family members as their stepbrother. Two other people were injured in the incident.
Candles, flowers and signs demanding answers from local officials Monday, July 7, 2025, in Esparto near the site of the fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven.Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio
California to launch new fireworks safety task force
The Office of the State Fire Marshal, a part of Cal Fire, will launch a new task force to look at strengthening safety measures around fireworks use, storage and permitting.
State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant told CapRadio the group will conduct a comprehensive review of California’s fireworks regulations and enforcement efforts, and make recommendations for changes.
“We want to do a deep dive, in-depth review of all of our regulatory requirements connected to fireworks,” Berland said. adding that the task force will also consider “any regulatory changes that our fire and law enforcement leaders want to recommend.”
Berlant said the state is still finalizing the details of the task force, but plans to include representatives from associations of fire chiefs, fire marshals, police chiefs and other public safety organizations. Industry representatives and fireworks users already serve on an existing advisory committee.
One issue the task force will address is how state-issued fireworks licenses are tracked after they are issued. Berlant said state law requires pyrotechnic companies to obtain a license from Cal Fire and a local permit from the jurisdiction where they operate; but there is no process to confirm with the state that the local permit was granted.
“One of the things we’ll definitely [be] asking the task force to focus on is to ensure that we close any loopholes,” Berlant said. He added that one goal will be to ensure local permits are sent back to the state for validation, creating proper checks and balances.
Berlant said Cal Fire is exploring the use of emergency regulations to address any urgent safety concerns that are identified before the longer regulatory rulemaking process is complete.
The task force is expected to meet in the coming months, with the goal of providing recommendations before the end of the year.
The announcement of the task force comes as Cal Fire continues to lead the investigation into the explosion and the resulting nearly 80-acre Oakdale Fire. Last month Berlant described the case as complex, citing “a lot of red flags,” including missing permits and potential conflicts of interest.
“The family deserves to know what happened. The community deserves answers,” he told Insight Host Vicki Gonzalez in July, adding that investigators are working to maintain the integrity of the case in case it goes to trial.
On July 15, Cal Fire suspended the pyrotechnic licenses of two men connected to the Esparto facility - Kenneth Chee, the CEO and owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics and Craig Cutright, the owner of Blackstar Fireworks.
Berlant told CapRadio at the time suspending the licenses was standard procedure, and gave Cal Fire a 30-day window to gather evidence “and to begin the administrative process to potentially revoke a license.”
Conflict of interest concerns surround local response
In the month following the explosion, questions have continued to swirl regarding the connection of several Yolo County agencies to the incident.
Cutright is a volunteer member of the Esparto Fire Protection District, and was placed on leave after the explosion.
The property where the facility was located is owned by Sam Machado, a lieutenant in the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office and his wife Tammy, who also works for the department.
In a July 17 statement, the Sheriff’s Office acknowledged that “a Yolo County Sheriff Lieutenant and non-sworn Yolo County Sheriff’s Office administrative employee who is also his wife” owned the property, without mentioning the Machados by name. They were placed on administrative leave July 10.
Regarding these concerns, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors sent a letter July 18 to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, requesting the Department of Justice to join Cal Fire and Cal OSHA in leading the investigation into the explosion.
Board Chair Mary Vixie Sandy wrote, “there is a strong public perception of conflicts within the [Yolo County Sheriff’s Office] that could undermine the integrity of the on-going investigations and any subsequent prosecution of responsible parties.” She said the DOJ’s direct involvement in the investigation would maintain public confidence and avoid any potential conflicts.
On Aug. 8 the DOJ declined to intervene. Special Assistant Attorney General Jamal Anderson wrote the Department is confident in Cal Fire’s ability, “to conduct a complete, thorough and unbiased investigation,” noting that the state agency - not the sheriff’s office - is in charge of looking into the incident.
Anderson also said the DOJ has not found any “office-wide disabling conflict” within the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office that would require a recusal from prosecuting any potential offenses. He added that the Department is ready to provide assistance as needed.
Yolo County declares local health emergency
As the investigation into the cause of the explosion continues, local health officials are taking measures to understand how the incident is affecting the surrounding environment.
Yolo County Public Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson declared a local health emergency Aug. 11 for properties affected by the explosion and the Oakdale Fire, in order to facilitate an environmental review of the incident. It allows the county to identify materials storied or used at the explosion site, do environmental sampling and request state assistance.
The county says the declaration does not mean the incident site is unsafe, but notes, “the explosion site may pose health risks, and that testing is needed to determine its safety.”
Officials said fireworks can contain heavy metals, oxidizing agents and other hazardous materials, and that debris, ash and dust from the explosion can also be harmful. The environmental review will begin with soil, air and water testing, and could lead to remediation steps such as soil removal, water filtration or targeted cleanups.
A photo of the Oakdale Fire taken July 1, 2025.Courtesy of the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit
Residents living within a half-mile radius of the fire zone are advised to avoid contact with any ash and debris, and to avoid consuming food or water that came into contact with these materials.
The board of supervisors previously declared a local emergency July 8, which allows the county to access state and federal resources and logistical support. It also opens the door for emergency service and long-term recovery costs to potentially be reimbursed.
Civil lawsuit filed over explosion damages
The explosion has also begun to draw legal action. Etta James Farming, a Yolo County-based farm, filed a civil lawsuit against Chee, Cutright and Sam Machado.
In a complaint filed July 18 in Yolo County Superior Court, attorneys for Etta James Farming allege the defendants operated an “unlawful and unpermitted commercial-grade fireworks operation” that stored and sold illegal fireworks to the public. The suit claims the operation caused the explosion and the resulting Oakdale Fire, which destroyed approximately 74 acres of farmland, as well as farm equipment and infrastructure.
The lawsuit also says Machado is a former Assistant Chief of the neighboring Madison Fire Protection District, and labels him an associate of Yolo County Sheriff Tom Lopez - who is also the former Chief of the fire protection district.
It claims Machado “realized substantial financial benefits” from allowing Chee, Cutright and their companies to operate their fireworks businesses on his property. It also alleges Machado failed to “properly maintain control, manage and/or inspect” the fireworks facility and its operations, which allowed for conditions that posed the risk of an explosion and/or fire.
The farm is seeking compensation for property losses, business damages and expenses as well as unspecified punitive damages.
Vicki Gonzalez contributed reporting to this story.
