The Abridged version:
- During a tough budget year, Yolo County is contending with the unexpected costs of the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven people.
- The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to extend the local state of emergency and health emergency for the area around the blast site.
- Nearly $2 million will go toward legal and cleanup costs associated with the blast.
Almost three months after a fireworks warehouse explosion near Esparto killed seven people, Yolo County approved nearly $2 million to continue cleaning up and investigating a scene that remains mostly unchanged since the blast.
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to extend the local state of emergency and health emergency while dedicating $1.7 million for ongoing cleanup and legal resources.
- In the 2025-2026 budget, the board set aside $964,000 to hire five employees at the District Attorney’s office who will support the ongoing investigation and potential prosecution related to the disaster. The new positions will be used to cover cases for current prosecutors who are working full-time on the blast investigation.
- The board also dedicated $750,000 to ongoing work at the site, including costs associated with fencing and security.
- Supervisors and city staff indicated that there will likely be more expenses associated with cleanup and remediation in the future.
The District Attorney’s office requested funds to “retain extra help investigators, provide for necessary overtime, equipment, and external consultants,” the office said in a statement to Abridged.
Unexpected costs in a tough budget year
The unexpected costs come in a difficult budget year for Yolo County, one in which supervisors and staff were tasked with addressing an initial $39 million structural deficit. They were able to do so, but staff warned that the deficit will continue to affect county finances.
District 4 Supervisor Sheila Allen expressed frustration that Yolo County is footing a significant amount of the bill for the Esparto disaster, indicating help is needed from the state and landowners.
“It’s all landing in our lap,” she said at the meeting.
District 2 Supervisor Lucas Frerichs spoke about the importance of devoting resources to cleaning up the site.
“Who knows what’s in the soil out there,” he said. “The safety of the public is our business.”
The extension of the local health emergency allows the county to request support from state and federal health agencies as it works to assess the environmental damage caused by the blast.
Officials continue to test the soil, water and air around the site to determine if any hazardous materials pose a threat to residents. The Yolo County Health Officer has advised residents within a half-mile radius of the site to avoid contact with ash or debris.
Daniel Hennessy is a reporter covering Yolo County for Abridged.