Cal Fire hands Esparto explosions findings to Yolo DA

Months after the deadly Esparto fireworks explosion that killed seven people, the leading agency investigating the tragedy announced on Monday that it found signs of criminal activity and turned its findings over to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.Cal Fire’s state fire marshal was tasked with investigating the July 1, 2025, fire and explosions at a facility near the community of Esparto. Questions arose whether Devastating Pyrotechnics and Blackstar Fireworks, the two companies operating at the facility, had the necessary permits to operate and store fireworks at the location.In a news release, Cal Fire said it found evidence of “illegal activities uncovered in the investigation” and that it sent a report of its findings to the Yolo DA, who will determine what’s next.“This complex investigation took many turns as new information emerged, but the team diligently followed leads and gathered the facts that form the basis of the report,” California State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said in the release.The state fire marshal’s office said its arson and bomb unit investigators will support the DA’s office as needed.KCRA 3 has reached out to the district attorney’s office for comment on Cal Fire’s findings. The DA’s office said it is aware that Cal Fire is sending its report and that the investigation remains ongoing.Details revealed through investigationIn the wake of the explosion, KCRA 3 Investigates was the first to report that not only was the property not zoned for fireworks storage, but the company also did not have the proper local permits, either. Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, had permits from Cal Fire for importing fireworks as well as a fireworks display operator. However, a felony conviction made it impossible for him to get an ATF license for importing. Chee had a friend get that license for Devastating Pyrotechnics instead. Under current California law, only a felony involving fire or explosives can prevent someone from getting a fireworks permit.Emails from county officials, dating back several years before the explosion, showed that county code inspectors knew that fireworks were being stored at that facility, in an area zoned only for agriculture, yet still did not act. The property, owned by Yolo County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Sam Machado, was also home to his own gun sales company.The ongoing investigation into the explosion has already revealed possible illegal activities at other locations in California, along with imports that go far beyond the display fireworks that Devastating Pyrotechnics listed on its website and its proposals to cities for Fourth of July celebrations.Both Chee and Craig Cutright, who owns Blackstar, had import licenses through Cal Fire. Cutright, an Esparto volunteer firefighter, is listed as working for both companies.KCRA 3’s investigation also revealed that Cal Fire had received an email about fireworks issues concerning Devastating Pyrotechnics in 2023. That email came from Dennis Revell, a consultant and public relations professional working with TNT Fireworks. He also cited import data from that year and showed that Devastating Pyrotechnics imported more than 40,000 pounds of fireworks in the weeks leading up to a June 2023 fire at a San Jose storage facility.Devastating Pyrotechnics’ fireworks import dataStill, a review of import data of the companies in 2025 shows hundreds of thousands of pounds of fireworks being brought into California’s ports, while investigators claimed in a search warrant that the declarations and import paperwork may have been fake.A review of Devastating Pyrotechnics’ imports shows that from January through the end of June 2025, the company imported more than 600,000 (612,440) pounds of fireworks. The last two shipments came in on June 26, 2025.The fireworks came into multiple ports: Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland.While Blackstar Fireworks listed on its website sections to sell wholesale and retail fireworks, along with their large displays, Devastating Pyrotechnics never listed its company as dealing with consumer-type fireworks. Yet hundreds of thousands of pounds of fireworks listed as “UN0336,” the type of fireworks you might buy at a stand for Fourth of July celebrations, were imported by Chee and his company. Some of those imports arrived just days before fireworks would be legal to be sold in stands.Revoked licensesSince the explosions, the state marshal’s office revoked the pyrotechnics licenses for both those companies, determining that they had violated state fireworks laws and regulations. The agency found that the companies did not file proper importation documents with the state fire marshal’s office.Other offenses listed include not reporting lost fireworks, possessing fireworks without a local permit and “numerous additional allegations that remain part of the criminal investigation still underway,” the state fire marshal’s office said in August 2025.Arrests and operations related to EspartoMonths before the Esparto explosions, Cal Fire and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) raided a Los Angeles warehouse, seizing nearly 500,000 pounds of illegal fireworks. A lawyer for the man who leased the property said those fireworks belonged to Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics.In a search warrant obtained by KCRA 3 Investigates under the California Public Records Act, federal agents with the Department of Transportation had discovered large quantities of fireworks in a warehouse at this location. As with Devastating Pyrotechnics, the owner of the company TYI Trading, Johnny Chek, claimed he was “being paid by Kenny” to store his “1.3 commercial fireworks” in the Commerce warehouse. “Kenny” was found to be Kenneth Chee.A review of TYI Trading’s import records from 2025 shows that nearly 500,000 pounds of fireworks were imported under that company’s name. Most of those were consumer-grade fireworks.Just like with the Esparto facility, the Commerce warehouse was never zoned for the storage of fireworks. It was actually within 200 feet of an active railway, 2,000 feet of a high school, and near numerous businesses within a city.The attorney believes his client got caught in the middle and alleges investigators could have shut down the Esparto facility after the May raid. However, Berlant disputed that claim and called it an “unfounded attempt to shift blame.”Cal Fire claims there would not have been enough time to get warrants obtained and search the Esparto location in time to prevent the explosion.In a separate Los Angeles raid in October, officials arrested Luis Acosta after securing a warrant in connection with the Esparto investigation. There, officials found “several items” that required assistance from bomb squad and hazardous materials teams.Officials made a second arrest related to Esparto in December. Del Norte County deputies, along with the Yolo County District Attorney’s criminal investigation bureau, searched a home in Crescent City and arrested Ronald Botelho III. Photos shared by the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office show a large cache of explosives in Botelho’s home. Details at the time were not released on how his arrest was connected, only that the arrest warrant was part of the Esparto explosions.Responses since the explosionsA special task force is seeking to identify loopholes with permits and regulations to ensure another tragedy like what happened in Esparto never happens again.| RELATED | Yolo County coroner confirms cause of deaths for the seven killedIn December, CAL/OSHA issued more than $200,000 in fines through 15 citations, three of which were noted to have been serious regulatory violations that the agency said were directly related to the deadly explosions. Read more here.Chee, Chek and Cutright all had licenses from the state of California to import fireworks. Cal Fire has told KCRA 3 that there have been multiple search warrants for several locations beyond the Esparto and San Francisco locations for Kenneth Chee. Some of that investigation is looking into the hundreds of thousands of pounds of consumer fireworks imported into the state that investigators say were illegal to sell in California.Meanwhile, families of the victims say they plan to sue government entities and individuals. A press release alleged that state and county employees “turned a blind eye due to a culture where friends are not subjected to the same oversight as the rest of us.”Maria Melendez, who was married to Joel Melendez, one of the men killed in the explosion, said the update in the investigation was painful. “My heart is shattered all over again. This update brought back a lot of grief. As a widow and a mother of two babies under two- this is extremely painful to see. We welcomed our second son at the end of November, and I still struggle to accept that his father isn’t here,” she told KCRA 3. “Seeing this news brings back so much pain. We’re still living the aftermath every single day. I’m just praying for answers, clarity, and peace for every family that’s been forever changed by this.”Joel’s mother, Lupe Melendez-Mendoza, said she’s frustrated with the lack of arrests in the case and is still struggling to accept what happened to her son. She urged prosecutors to hold those responsible accountable.”We’re depending on you. Don’t slap them on their wrist. Please don’t. Of course, it’s not going to bring my son back. It’s not going to bring the seven back. But please do your job. You don’t understand how that would help somewhat,” Melendez-Mendoza said. “I hope and I pray that somebody is held accountable because he meant a lot.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

ESPARTO, Calif. —

Cal Fire’s state fire marshal was tasked with investigating the July 1, 2025, fire and explosions at a facility near the community of Esparto. Questions arose whether Devastating Pyrotechnics and Blackstar Fireworks, the two companies operating at the facility, had the necessary permits to operate and store fireworks at the location.

In a news release, Cal Fire said it found evidence of “illegal activities uncovered in the investigation” and that it sent a report of its findings to the Yolo DA, who will determine what’s next.

“This complex investigation took many turns as new information emerged, but the team diligently followed leads and gathered the facts that form the basis of the report,” California State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said in the release.

The state fire marshal’s office said its arson and bomb unit investigators will support the DA’s office as needed.

KCRA 3 has reached out to the district attorney’s office for comment on Cal Fire’s findings. The DA’s office said it is aware that Cal Fire is sending its report and that the investigation remains ongoing.

Details revealed through investigation

In the wake of the explosion, KCRA 3 Investigates was the first to report that not only was the property not zoned for fireworks storage, but the company also did not have the proper local permits, either.

Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, had permits from Cal Fire for importing fireworks as well as a fireworks display operator. However, a felony conviction made it impossible for him to get an ATF license for importing. Chee had a friend get that license for Devastating Pyrotechnics instead.

Under current California law, only a felony involving fire or explosives can prevent someone from getting a fireworks permit.

Emails from county officials, dating back several years before the explosion, showed that county code inspectors knew that fireworks were being stored at that facility, in an area zoned only for agriculture, yet still did not act. The property, owned by Yolo County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Sam Machado, was also home to his own gun sales company.

The ongoing investigation into the explosion has already revealed possible illegal activities at other locations in California, along with imports that go far beyond the display fireworks that Devastating Pyrotechnics listed on its website and its proposals to cities for Fourth of July celebrations.

Both Chee and Craig Cutright, who owns Blackstar, had import licenses through Cal Fire. Cutright, an Esparto volunteer firefighter, is listed as working for both companies.

KCRA 3’s investigation also revealed that Cal Fire had received an email about fireworks issues concerning Devastating Pyrotechnics in 2023. That email came from Dennis Revell, a consultant and public relations professional working with TNT Fireworks. He also cited import data from that year and showed that Devastating Pyrotechnics imported more than 40,000 pounds of fireworks in the weeks leading up to a June 2023 fire at a San Jose storage facility.

Devastating Pyrotechnics’ fireworks import data

Still, a review of import data of the companies in 2025 shows hundreds of thousands of pounds of fireworks being brought into California’s ports, while investigators claimed in a search warrant that the declarations and import paperwork may have been fake.

A review of Devastating Pyrotechnics’ imports shows that from January through the end of June 2025, the company imported more than 600,000 (612,440) pounds of fireworks. The last two shipments came in on June 26, 2025.

The fireworks came into multiple ports: Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland.

While Blackstar Fireworks listed on its website sections to sell wholesale and retail fireworks, along with their large displays, Devastating Pyrotechnics never listed its company as dealing with consumer-type fireworks.

Yet hundreds of thousands of pounds of fireworks listed as “UN0336,” the type of fireworks you might buy at a stand for Fourth of July celebrations, were imported by Chee and his company. Some of those imports arrived just days before fireworks would be legal to be sold in stands.

Revoked licenses

Since the explosions, the state marshal’s office revoked the pyrotechnics licenses for both those companies, determining that they had violated state fireworks laws and regulations. The agency found that the companies did not file proper importation documents with the state fire marshal’s office.

Other offenses listed include not reporting lost fireworks, possessing fireworks without a local permit and “numerous additional allegations that remain part of the criminal investigation still underway,” the state fire marshal’s office said in August 2025.

Arrests and operations related to Esparto

Months before the Esparto explosions, Cal Fire and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) raided a Los Angeles warehouse, seizing nearly 500,000 pounds of illegal fireworks. A lawyer for the man who leased the property said those fireworks belonged to Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics.

In a search warrant obtained by KCRA 3 Investigates under the California Public Records Act, federal agents with the Department of Transportation had discovered large quantities of fireworks in a warehouse at this location. As with Devastating Pyrotechnics, the owner of the company TYI Trading, Johnny Chek, claimed he was “being paid by Kenny” to store his “1.3 commercial fireworks” in the Commerce warehouse. “Kenny” was found to be Kenneth Chee.

A review of TYI Trading’s import records from 2025 shows that nearly 500,000 pounds of fireworks were imported under that company’s name. Most of those were consumer-grade fireworks.

Just like with the Esparto facility, the Commerce warehouse was never zoned for the storage of fireworks. It was actually within 200 feet of an active railway, 2,000 feet of a high school, and near numerous businesses within a city.

The attorney believes his client got caught in the middle and alleges investigators could have shut down the Esparto facility after the May raid. However, Berlant disputed that claim and called it an “unfounded attempt to shift blame.”

Cal Fire claims there would not have been enough time to get warrants obtained and search the Esparto location in time to prevent the explosion.

In a separate Los Angeles raid in October, officials arrested Luis Acosta after securing a warrant in connection with the Esparto investigation. There, officials found “several items” that required assistance from bomb squad and hazardous materials teams.

Officials made a second arrest related to Esparto in December. Del Norte County deputies, along with the Yolo County District Attorney’s criminal investigation bureau, searched a home in Crescent City and arrested Ronald Botelho III. Photos shared by the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office show a large cache of explosives in Botelho’s home. Details at the time were not released on how his arrest was connected, only that the arrest warrant was part of the Esparto explosions.

Responses since the explosions

A special task force is seeking to identify loopholes with permits and regulations to ensure another tragedy like what happened in Esparto never happens again.

In December, CAL/OSHA issued more than $200,000 in fines through 15 citations, three of which were noted to have been serious regulatory violations that the agency said were directly related to the deadly explosions. Read more here.

Chee, Chek and Cutright all had licenses from the state of California to import fireworks. Cal Fire has told KCRA 3 that there have been multiple search warrants for several locations beyond the Esparto and San Francisco locations for Kenneth Chee. Some of that investigation is looking into the hundreds of thousands of pounds of consumer fireworks imported into the state that investigators say were illegal to sell in California.

Meanwhile, families of the victims say they plan to sue government entities and individuals. A press release alleged that state and county employees “turned a blind eye due to a culture where friends are not subjected to the same oversight as the rest of us.”

Maria Melendez, who was married to Joel Melendez, one of the men killed in the explosion, said the update in the investigation was painful.

“My heart is shattered all over again. This update brought back a lot of grief. As a widow and a mother of two babies under two- this is extremely painful to see. We welcomed our second son at the end of November, and I still struggle to accept that his father isn’t here,” she told KCRA 3. “Seeing this news brings back so much pain. We’re still living the aftermath every single day. I’m just praying for answers, clarity, and peace for every family that’s been forever changed by this.”

Joel’s mother, Lupe Melendez-Mendoza, said she’s frustrated with the lack of arrests in the case and is still struggling to accept what happened to her son. She urged prosecutors to hold those responsible accountable.

“We’re depending on you. Don’t slap them on their wrist. Please don’t. Of course, it’s not going to bring my son back. It’s not going to bring the seven back. But please do your job. You don’t understand how that would help somewhat,” Melendez-Mendoza said. “I hope and I pray that somebody is held accountable because he meant a lot.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Cal Fire hands Esparto explosions findings to Yolo DA

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