Overview

• Etta James Farming LLC filed the first civil lawsuit on July 22 against Devastating Pyrotechnics, Blackstar Fireworks, their owners Kenneth Chee and Craig Cutright, and Lt. Sam Machado for the July 1 warehouse blast that killed seven workers
• The farm alleges the defendants ran an unlawful, unpermitted commercial-grade fireworks operation that ignited the Oakdale Fire, burning nearly 80 acres of farmland and destroying crops and equipment
• The state fire marshal’s office suspended the pyrotechnic licenses of Chee and Cutright on July 15 and continues to analyze off-site evidence under Yolo County district attorney oversight
• Yolo County’s Board of Supervisors has asked Attorney General Rob Bonta to join the investigation over conflict-of-interest concerns after revelations that two sheriff’s office employees owned the blast site and took part in early probe actions
• No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the explosion as Cal Fire’s multi-agency investigation advances