Four days after a massive explosion engulfed an Esparto fireworks storage facility operated by Devastating Pyrotechnics, rescue workers finally began sifting through the rubble in search of seven workers missing since the blast.

The fiery disaster that ignited a 78-acre blaze and left behind a scene of devastation is now the focus of a multi-agency investigation. As families and the wider community continue to mourn, state officials are working to determine what went wrong and who, if anyone, should be held accountable.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the federal agency traditionally responsible for investigating large-scale industrial explosions and determining root causes, was dissolved last month by the Trump administration. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, D-California, a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee that has jurisdiction over occupational and mine safety, called the move "unconscionable" and added, “Having spent my career fighting to regulate nearby refineries, I know the vital role the CSB plays in probing the root causes of chemical incidents and in issuing recommendations that have helped keep workers and communities safer."

The closure of the CSB leaves a major gap in the Esparto investigation that is now being fully led by Cal/OSHA. While the much-maligned agency has recently increased its number of criminal investigators, questions remain about whether the newly hired team has the experience necessary to manage a case of this scale, especially as troubling details of the incident are emerging.

Public records show that the Esparto Fire Protection District charged the Devastating Pyrotechnics facility just $456 in fire risk assessments, less than a local taqueria, despite its storage of high-risk commercial explosives. The property is owned by a Yolo County sheriff’s lieutenant, and the facility employed a volunteer firefighter from the same district. These ties among local law enforcement, fire officials and the fireworks company are disturbing as investigators look into whether conflicts of interest or regulatory oversights contributed to the tragedy.

State and local agencies are now attempting to piece together what happened, while the community is left grappling with the consequences of lax oversight and insufficient regulation of a high-risk industry. 

Despite the known risks, the Esparto facility was subject to minimal local safety assessments and operated under the radar of regulatory scrutiny. This tragedy casts doubt on the adequacy of current oversight systems to safeguard workers and the surrounding areas.

As the investigations into the Esparto explosion unfold, attorneys will be instrumental in making sure the rights of injured workers and their families are not forgotten. When regulatory agencies fall short or are stripped of resources, it is often attorneys who must push for answers, accountability and justice, ensuring that worker safety remains a priority, even when the system fails to deliver.  

This opinion by the California Applicants' Attorneys Association communications team is republished with permission from the CAAA website.