Overview

• Etta James Farming LLC lodged the first civil action in Yolo County Superior Court, alleging negligence in the July 1 blast that killed seven workers and damaged adjacent crops.
• The lawsuit names Kenneth Chee, Craig Cutright, Sam and Tammy Machado, Devastating Pyrotechnics Inc., Devastating Pyrotechnics LLC and Blackstar Fireworks as defendants.
• The Attorney General’s office is reviewing Yolo County’s request to take a direct role in the investigation after revelations of law enforcement conflicts raised public trust concerns.
• Mid-July license suspensions by the State Fire Marshal’s Office targeted Chee and Cutright, and new procedural barriers have been outlined to protect the multi-agency probe’s integrity.
• Cal Fire, the ATF and local bomb squads are conducting off-site evidence analyses and examining permitting and licensing lapses that allowed the unapproved fireworks operation.