Stockton Speedway, Lodi Lake fireworks shows canceled after Esparto warehouse fire

Yahoo

03-07-2025

Two Independence Day fireworks shows in San Joaquin County are being canceled following the July 1 explosion of a Yolo County warehouse that was storing their pyrotechnics.
Thursday night's fireworks show at the New Stockton 99 Speedway is canceled, the Noceti Group, which operates the track, announced on social media. The Lodi Lake fireworks show, scheduled the evening of Friday, July 4, also is canceled.
The city of Lodi attributed the Fourth of July fireworks cancellation to the warehouse fire in Esparto, the small rural Yolo community where the fireworks for the show were kept. The warehouse had several explosions around 6 p.m. Tuesday. Other structures on the property caught fire and flames spread into grass fire, forcing evacuations in the area. The cause of the fire is still unknown, said the Yolo County Sheriff's Office.
"We are heartbroken to share that this year's Lodi Lake fireworks show has been cancelled," city of Lodi officials said Wednesday on social media. "We know how much this tradition means to our community, and this news saddens us deeply. Our deepest condolences and thoughts go out those affected by this tragedy. No alternate show is planned at this time."
The Esparto Fire Protection District and Cal Fire — Office of the State Fire Marshal said in a joint statement on Wednesday morning that seven people remained unaccounted for.
"This type of incident is very rare, as facilities like this are required to not only follow our stringent California pyrotechnic requirements, but also federal explosive storage requirements," officials said.
Regarding the show at the Stockton speedway, promoter Tony Noceti and his team explored every possible alternative, but replacements were unavailable due to the short notice, the group said.
"We ask that you please keep the families and all those affected by the Esparto explosion in your thoughts and prayers," the Noceti Group said.
Friday's Lodi Lakes fireworks show was set to begin around 9:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
City officials said the community can still enjoy Fourth of July festivities at Lodi Lake on Friday. The park will be open to the public from 2 to 8 p.m., with normal park rules in effect.
Tickets are still available for the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, set for 7 to 11 a.m. on Friday at 1101 W. Turner Road in Lodi. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, city officials said. Bike parking will be available in the West Beach lot.
Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger.
The Boathouse will also be open for reservations. To make a reservation, visit lodiboathouse.com/4th-of-july/. City officials encourage visitors to walk or bike when possible, as parking is "extremely limited" and no vehicles will be allowed inside the park.
To learn more about Lodi's Fourth of July festivities, visit facebook.com/cityoflodi.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at [e-mail] or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Esparto fire, explosion cancels Stockton Speedway, Lodi Lake fireworks