Families in California are waiting anxiously for answers, a week after a devastating fireworks storage facility explosion in Esparto, Yolo County, that killed seven people.
The incident also triggered an 80-acre wildfire, and authorities are still investigating the case, leaving families of the victims feeling left in the dark. One resident, Jhony Ramos, said that the fireworks explosion took his two sons, Jesus and Jhony Ramos Jr., who were 18 and 22, respectively.
Fireworks Storage Facility Explosion
The father said that after the tragedy, he felt dead inside because he would no longer be able to see his two children again. County officials said the remains of the seven victims who died have already been recovered.
The investigation is being led by Cal Fire, and they are currently trying to determine what exactly caused the explosion at the storage facility. The structure was operated by Bay Area-based Devastating Pyrotechnics.
Ramos added he went to a press conference earlier this week, expecting to get answers about the incident that killed his two sons. However, he was not allowed to attend the media-only briefing, according to Cap Radio.
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The father's attorney, Samantha Ortiz, argued that the lack of transparency in the case only compounds the family's pain. She added that they feel like they can start going back to their lives after they get answers to their questions.
Ortiz has not yet filed a lawsuit on the family's behalf, noting that her team is currently focused on providing emotional support. She added that if a lawsuit is something that comes later on, they will have a lot more questions about the incident.
Waiting for Answers
The State Fire Marshal's Office also said that investigators were proactively trying to track down several leads and have already served several search warrants as part of the process. It added that it is not able to share more details right now, but it is committed to conducting a thorough investigation, KCRA reported.
While all of the remains of the seven victims have already been recovered, the coroner's office is still working on identifying them. It is expected that it will conduct autopsies and DNA testing in the coming week.
Following the incident, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said it was planning to use controlled explosions to detonate the fireworks and hazardous materials at the scene that had not exploded. The agency reassured residents that they implemented all safety precautions needed to keep things from getting dangerous, as per CBS News.
