Victims missing in Yolo County warehouse fireworks explosion ID’d

(KRON) — Several people who worked in Yolo County warehouses used for storing professional-grade fireworks are still missing Thursday following a giant explosion and raging fire.

A barrage of fireworks exploded before the warehouses collapsed near Esparto, about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento, on Tuesday night. Two victims were injured and seven people remained missing as of Thursday morning, fire officials said.

One of the missing people has been identified as Joel “Jr” Melendez, according to a verified GoFundMe page. For Melendez’s pregnant wife, the incident has “shattered her entire world,” the page states.

“Maria Melendez is facing an unimaginable ordeal. Her husband, Joel ‘Jr’ Melendez, has been missing since the devastating Esparto Explosion in Yolo County. Jr supported his wife their 11-month-old baby boy … and their second child on the way. What should be a joyful and hopeful time has instead become filled with fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak,” the page states. “We continue to hold onto hope and pray for answers.”

Three brothers from the San Francisco Bay Area who worked in the warehouses are also among the missing, KCRA reported. One of the brothers, 18-year-old Jesus Maneces Ramos, was working his first day on the job when the explosion happened, according to KCRA. Their loved ones said no one has been able to contact the three brothers.

Esparto Fire Department Chief Curtis Lawrence said the explosion was “obviously an incident of great magnitude. I have not seen anything like this.”

The cause of the blast is under investigation. Jason Clay of Cal Fire said the property owner adhered to state pyrotechnic requirements and federal explosive storage requirements. “This location is believed to be owned by an active pyrotechnics license holder. Part of our investigation will be to go through and determine the materials that were in there,” Clay said.

The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said its investigators have to wait for the smoldering blast site to cool down before they can enter.

The disaster happened just three days before several cities, including San Jose, were set to use the Yolo County fireworks for Fourth of July shows. San Jose city officials canceled their free July 4 fireworks show at Lake Cunningham because pyrotechnics for the show were destroyed.

On Thursday, officials announced that the Lake Cunningham celebration will instead have a drone show, starting at 9 p.m. Friday. “The tragedy in Yolo County has affected multiple fireworks displays,” said councilmember Domingo Candelas. “While we have to cancel the fireworks, the celebration is still on. Families are welcome to come to Lake Cunningham to enjoy everything we have planned: food trucks, performances, and activities. Our hope is to still unite our community in celebration but also deter the use of illegal fireworks in our neighborhoods.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.