For the first time since massive fireworks explosions leveled a warehouse in the Esparto area of Yolo County, first responders were seen entering the blast zone to begin searching for seven missing people.

Shauntel Sarionder walks her dog Bella in front of a fireworks stand at Esparto Community Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025. “It’s a quiet community, everybody knows each other,” said Sarionder, who has lived in Esparto for 10 years. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS [email protected]

The mile perimeter around the disaster sight remains locked down. The updates are few and far between. The fate of seven missing persons is unspoken. And, the sun has set on this tragedy for a third a