ESPARTO, Calif. — Authorities in Northern California have discovered the bodies of all seven people who went missing following an explosion at a fireworks warehouse last week that sparked a wildfire and shook a small farming community.
The barrage of fireworks that exploded Tuesday ignited a massive fire, which spread to other spot fires and collapsed the building in Yolo County, about 40 miles (64 kilometres) northwest of Sacramento.
All human remains have been recovered from the charred warehouse site, but the identities of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification, according to a county statement released on Sunday.
“Crews are continuing to mitigate explosive hazards present at the scene,” the statement read. The cause of the explosion was being investigated.
Officials reported that two people were treated for injuries as a result of the blast in Encarto.
The warehouse was managed by Devastating Pyrotechnics, which has over 30 years of experience designing and producing fireworks shows, according to a screenshot of its website before it was removed.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with those we have lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community,” the company said in a statement last week. “Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation.”
According to officials, the wildfire burned nearly 80 acres (33 hectares) and scorched the surrounding agricultural fields.
