Fireworks Warehouse EXPLODES in California, Triggers Mass Evacuation (Video)

A fiery inferno lit up the skies over Northern California Tuesday evening when a fireworks warehouse suddenly exploded, just two days before the Fourth of July holiday.

The blast, which eyewitnesses say could be felt from miles away, rocked the small town of Esparto shortly before 6 p.m. local time. While no injuries were reported as of Wednesday morning, the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office wasted no time announcing a mandatory evacuation zone stretching one mile from the blast site.

“It looked like the Fourth of July came early,” said Daniel Alvarez, a local resident who watched the fireball from his backyard. “One second it was calm, the next it was boom—fireworks flying everywhere, flames shooting up into the sky.”

According to Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence, crews arrived to find chaos: fireworks bursting mid-air, flames racing across nearby fields, and debris scattered in all directions.

“Numerous explosions, multiple wildfires, and structures engulfed in flames,” Lawrence told reporters during a tense evening briefing. “We’re talking about a very volatile scene.”

Firefighters battled at least 80 acres of wildland blazes ignited by flying sparks and embers from the initial blast. By sunrise Wednesday, most of the smaller fires had been contained, but the warehouse site itself remained too dangerous to enter.

Authorities are still scrambling to determine what caused the blast. While the explosion is not currently being treated as criminal, the California State Fire Marshal’s Arson and Bomb Unit is now leading the investigation.

“There’s no sign of foul play at this point,” a spokesperson for the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said late Tuesday. “But we’re dealing with a highly unstable situation. It could take days before we get any real answers.”

The explosion came just days ahead of what was expected to be one of the busiest Fourth of July fireworks seasons in recent memory. The Esparto facility reportedly stored bulk shipments of fireworks intended for regional displays across Yolo and Solano counties.

Residents shared video clips online showing a surreal scene — fireworks spiraling into the air as black smoke billowed overhead. One video, posted by 17-year-old Hudson Sheats and picked up by Reuters, captured the eerie audio of firecrackers popping nonstop for over a minute.

“I guess the fireworks that they were going to do all just exploded,” a voice says in the video. “That’s crazy.”

Officials warned that the fire could reignite or trigger more explosions. Specialized bomb and hazmat crews must now wait for the blaze to cool before entering the site.

“We’re asking folks to steer clear of the area until further notice,” the sheriff’s office added in a statement. “Even if the flames are out, this site is still extremely dangerous.”

Esparto, a sleepy farming town of just over 3,000 people, is now facing a holiday weekend clouded by uncertainty — and the stench of smoke. Many residents were forced to evacuate homes, with some seeking shelter in neighboring communities.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Maria Gomez, who lives less than a mile from the blast. “We were looking forward to celebrating. Now we’re just grateful to be alive.”