Overview

• The Yolo County coroner found all seven victims died immediately from multiple blasts and thermal injuries and classified their deaths as accidental.
• Cal Fire’s State Fire Marshal has assembled a multi-agency panel of fire and law enforcement leaders to scrutinize permitting rules and propose communication reforms among state and local regulators.
• Investigators identified regulatory gaps that let Devastating Pyrotechnics and Blackstar Fireworks operate with state sales and display licenses but no county storage permits and no state manufacturing license.
• Devastating Pyrotechnics CEO Kenneth Chee’s prior felony gun conviction barred him from an ATF explosives license but did not disqualify him under California licensing rules.
• Yolo County has declared a local health emergency to secure state and federal support for testing, cleanup and disposal of unexploded ordnance at the explosion site.