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San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
State suspends fireworks licenses after deadly Yolo County explosion
The Office of the State Fire Marshal suspended the pyrotechnic licenses of the owners of two fireworks companies that had ties to a Yolo County warehouse that exploded earlier this month, killing seven workers, authorities said Tuesday. The state suspended the licenses of Kenneth Chee, 48, the owner and CEO of Devastating Pyrotechnics, and Craig Cutright, who owns Blackstar Fireworks and has worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire Protection District. The Fire Marshal's office is leading the investigation into the deadly explosion. A Chronicle investigation earlier this month found that Chee was denied a license by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to acquire or possess fireworks. But for many years, Chee continued to grow his business and put on Fourth of July and New Year's displays for cities around the state. Cutright was once listed as a part of Devastating Pyrotechnics' administrative staff. Last week, police raided a San Francisco home, with the address listed known as Chee's former home. The explosion at the Esparto facility, located 35 miles northwest of Sacramento, occurred on July 1 and engulfed the building in flames. A blaze soon followed, which Cal Fire named the Oakdale Fire, quickly spreading into nearby vegetation along Highway 16 and Oakdale Ranch Lane. Smoke plumes appeared to rise more than 15,000 feet into the air, and the fire was eventually contained after burning approximately 78 acres. Seven people were killed in the explosion. Cal Fire officials said Tuesday that their arson and bomb investigators have completed their evidence collection from the explosion site. "We continue to remain laser focused on this investigation as the family and the community deserve answers. The effort to find the cause can take time, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide a thorough and accurate investigation." said Chief Daniel Berlant, California State Fire Marshal in a statement.
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
California fire marshal suspends pyrotechnic licenses tied to deadly Esparto explosion
The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced Tuesday that it has suspended the pyrotechnic licenses of two people tied to the deadly fireworks explosion at a Northern California facility on July 1. Those who had their licenses suspended were Devastating Pyrotechnics owner and CEO Kenneth Chee and Craig Cutright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks. Cutright is also an Esparto Fire Department volunteer firefighter. BlackStar Fireworks and Devastating Pyrotechnics both had the same listed address, which was the site of the explosion. Cal Fire's OSFM is leading the investigation to determine the origin and cause of the explosion that killed 7 workers at the facility in the Yolo County community of Esparto. "While our Arson & Bomb Investigators have completed their evidence collection from the explosion site, the investigation remains very active," State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant said. "We continue to remain laser-focused on this investigation as the family and the community deserve answers. The effort to find the cause can take time, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide a thorough and accurate investigation." Chee's home in San Francisco was raided by law enforcement a week ago. State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant sat down for a one-on-one interview with CBS Sacramento last week but did not say what investigators were searching for. The search warrant served at Chee's home was one of "a number of search warrants carried out" in connection with the Esparto explosion, Berlant said. Chee's attorney released a statement after that search stating that his client was innocent of any wrongdoing. Cal Fire said it could not provide further specific details on the investigation.
San Francisco Chronicle
10-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Exclusive: Trouble mounts for Costco optician who owns company in deadly fireworks blast
Before explosions rocked a fireworks company in Yolo County and killed seven workers, authorities launched an investigation into the head of the firm. They were looking into whether he illegally stored fireworks in Southern California and put dangerous display-grade devices in packaging indicating they were less powerful, or 'safe and sane,' a source familiar with the matter told the Chronicle. The investigations centered on former San Francisco resident Kenneth Chee, the 48-year-old owner and CEO of Devastating Pyrotechnics, whose operation in the farm town of Esparto was destroyed by fire on July 1, as the company prepared to put on Fourth of July displays in cities across Northern California. A series of blasts created a mushroom cloud visible from many miles away. The Chronicle granted anonymity to the source, who was not authorized to speak about the investigation, in accordance with the newspaper's policies on confidentiality. Further details on the Southern California case were not immediately available. The revelation that Chee, a San Ramon resident who has worked as an optician for Costco, was under investigation in Southern California comes after authorities raided a home where he once lived in San Francisco. On Tuesday, multiple law enforcement agencies searched the house on the 400 block of Second Avenue in the Inner Richmond neighborhood, which is owned by a relative of Chee who has been a manager at Devastating Pyrotechnics. Records show that Chee built his business over many years, putting on Fourth of July and New Year's displays in numerous cities and becoming a well-known figure in his industry, even though federal regulators barred him from acquiring or possessing fireworks. It's not clear why Chee was denied a crucial license by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. But as a 20-year-old man in September 1997, he was arrested for shooting a 14-year-old boy in a dispute in San Francisco, the Chronicle reported at the time. The next year, he was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of assault with a firearm. Under ATF regulations, anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison cannot obtain a federal explosives license. Two years ago, federal authorities approved a license for another man, Gary Chan Jr. of San Francisco — who is also associated with the Second Avenue home and appears to be Chee's half-brother — to operate Devastating Pyrotechnics, documents show. The Chronicle's efforts to reach Chan have been unsuccessful, and an attorney for Chee and Devastating Pyrotechnics has declined to respond to questions. Despite his federal denial, Chee successfully obtained three fireworks licenses in his own name from the Office of the State Fire Marshal in California to import and export materials, sell fireworks and launch public displays, all on behalf of Devastating Pyrotechnics. As the state fire marshal leads the investigation of the Yolo County blast, a central question is how — and where — Devastating Pyrotechnics was handling fireworks on the Esparto property. The site, 35 miles northwest of Sacramento, was zoned by the county for agriculture, and KCRA-TV reported it was owned by Sam Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. The Chronicle reported that the ATF's license approvals for Gary Chan Jr. allowed the company to store display-grade fireworks, but only in seven metal storage containers. Those containers were situated along an agricultural field on the northern edge of the property, according to maps reviewed by the Chronicle. The nearest container was about a third of a mile away from the buildings that blew up on July 1, and the company was not permitted to hold the display fireworks in the buildings on the main part of the property. The fact that Chee was denied by federal regulators and approved by state officials highlights the differing and less stringent requirements in California for fireworks operators. The state only requires that a licensee not have a felony conviction 'involving explosives or dangerous fireworks' or a conviction as a principal or accessory 'in a crime against property involving arson or any other fire-related offense.' One industry expert familiar with Chee, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid business repercussions, said the state needs to sync its regulations with the feds to avoid this type of situation. 'The two agencies are not on the same page,' this person said. 'To get federal licensing at Devastating Pyrotechnics, (Chee) had to use someone else's name with a clean past. Federally, Kenny can't be anywhere near fireworks.' Chee had been let go from another fireworks company because he did not meet federal eligibility requirements, the expert said. 'Kenny is a very competent, capable pyrotechnician,' he said. 'But he doesn't meet the legal requirements.' Still, Chee was able to grow his company without federal licensing after securing key contracts and building lasting relationships, including one with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. For years, Devastating Pyrotechnics has run displays at the chamber's Chinese New Year Festival and Parade in San Francisco. This year, the company had locked up contracts for Fourth of July shows in cities including San Jose, St. Helena and Cloverdale — shows that had to be canceled. The Chinese New Year parade director told the Chronicle this week that Devastating Pyrotechnics has been hired to do the event for 'more than 10 years.' Organizers worked directly with Chee and Neil Li, the company's general manager, who was reported missing by family members following the explosion. DNA analysis will determine whether he was among the victims whose remains were found.
Los Angeles Times
09-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Fireworks warehouse explosion: Authorities search home of pyrotechnics CEO
The California State Fire Marshal's Office searched a home in San Francisco on Tuesday that's believed to be linked to last week's deadly fireworks warehouse explosion in Yolo County. Seven people died in the small farming community of Esparto on July 1, roughly 80 miles north of the Bay Area. The dead were pulled from a warehouse operated by Devastating Pyrotechnics, a San Francisco-based business known for putting on fireworks shows for municipalities across the region. On Tuesday, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Fire Marshal's Office searched a home in the Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco, according to news station KPIX. The home is registered as the company mailing address for Devastating Pyrotechnics and its chief executive, Kenneth Chee, in the state's fireworks wholesaler database. They were joined by sheriff's officials from Yolo and Sacramento counties, along with San Francisco police officers, the station reported. Local news outlet Hoodline reports that members of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office's bomb squad were also present during the search of the home. 'Investigators are actively tracking down numerous leads and have served multiple search warrants as part of the investigation process,' a spokesperson for the California Fire Marshal's Office said in a statement. 'While we are unable to provide additional details at this time, please know that we are committed to conducting a thorough and comprehensive investigation.' A Yolo County spokesperson said they would not comment due to the ongoing investigation. Though the seven people who died at the warehouse have not been officially identified, family members have stepped forward and said many were Latino men working part time for Devastating Pyrotechnics who were tasked with packing fireworks leading up to the Fourth of July weekend. Esparto firefighters were notified about some type of emergency at the warehouse shortly before 6 p.m. on July 1. Fireworks fired off from the building before a large explosion ripped through the warehouse. Douglas Horngrad, Chee's attorney, said in a statement that his client 'is innocent of any wrongdoing. Until the investigation is concluded, we will refrain from further public comment. Once again, we express our heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and loved ones.' On Monday, emergency officials said they were transitioning out of the recovery phase surrounding the incident. Officials are now focusing on the law enforcement stage of the investigation.
San Francisco Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Exclusive: Owner of fireworks company linked to deadly explosion was denied federal license
The owner and CEO of the fireworks company linked to a deadly explosion in Yolo County is a former San Francisco resident who built his business over many years, putting on Fourth of July and New Year's displays in numerous local cities, even though federal regulators barred him from acquiring or possessing fireworks, records and interviews show. It's not clear why Kenneth Chee, a 48-year-old optometrist, was denied a license by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, nor whether he needed that license to own or act as head of Devastating Pyrotechnics. Two years ago, federal authorities approved a license for another man, Gary Chan Jr. of San Francisco, to operate Devastating Pyrotechnics, documents show. An attorney representing Chee and his company declined to comment, and ATF officials, who are investigating Tuesday's explosion at a warehouse on a property in the farm town of Esparto, did not respond to interview requests. But Chee had apparently rebuilt his life after early trouble. As a young man in 1998, he was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of assault with a firearm and firing a gun from a motor vehicle at a person, according to state records. Chee served his time at the prison now called San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in Marin County. Under ATF regulations, anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison cannot obtain a federal explosives license. Yet additional records obtained by the Chronicle show Chee — who filed the company's articles of incorporation with the California Secretary of State — obtained approval to operate his fireworks company from California officials. Devastating Pyrotechnics held three licenses from the Office of the State Fire Marshal to import and export materials, sell fireworks and launch public displays, all under Chee's name. Chee's status is one of many complexities investigators are sorting through in the aftermath of the explosion. The Esparto property, 35 miles northwest of Sacramento, was zoned for agriculture through Yolo County, and KCRA-TV reported it was owned by Sam Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. Meanwhile, the Chronicle viewed maps showing the operations of Devastating Pyrotechnics and another company on the property, Blackstar Fireworks. Devastating Pyrotechnics was permitted to store display-grade fireworks, the type used in municipal shows, in large metal storage containers far away from the building that burst into flames. The company's closest storage magazine was almost 2,000 feet away, or a third of a mile. On Friday, the burned warehouse continued to smolder as several families of company workers awaited news. Authorities said seven people were missing, and a source familiar with the investigation told the Chronicle that one death had been confirmed. The blast also injured two people, and led to cancellations of at least a dozen July Fourth displays the company had been planning in the region. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the state's Cal Fire agency, Jason Clay, said the facility's owner held valid state and federal licenses for storing explosives. 'Part of our investigation will be to go through and determine the materials that were in there,' he said. Federal authorities in 2023 approved the license for Gary Chan Jr. to operate Devastating Pyrotechnics. ATF records indicate Chan owned the company. But in October 2023, while negotiating with the Solano County city of Rio Vista to display fireworks at an anniversary celebration, the company listed Chee as 'Owner/CEO,' Jack Lee as operations manager and Neil Li as general manager. There was no mention of Chan. 'Devastating Pyrotechnics currently employs 3 full-time individuals and maintains dozens of licensed and trained pyrotechnicians,' said a letter from Li to the city. 'All staff and technicians working on your display will be fully trained, federally approved, Devastating Pyrotechnics employees.' A year earlier, while bidding to produce Pinole's Fourth of July fireworks show, Devastating Pyrotechnics listed Chee as a 'licensed ATF explosives importer & manufacturer.' The company said then that its administrative staff consisted of Chee, Lee and senior show producer Craig Cutright, who now owns Blackstar Fireworks and is a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire Protection District. The transfer and inserting of ignitors into fireworks is closely regulated. At the last ATF inspection a year ago, federal authorities found the company had properly stored the more powerful display fireworks in the storage containers which line the nearby agricultural fields. After the explosion, Devastating Fireworks disabled its website, replacing it with a statement attributed to management. 'Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community,' the statement read. 'We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel. Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate with the proper authorities in their investigation.' In past communications with cities, the company said it had safely put on fireworks displays for cities including San Jose and Redwood City, at a private inauguration party for the late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and at amusement parks and casinos. The precise cause of the blast in Esparto is under investigation. Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, a leading trade group, said that while explosions of commercial-grade fireworks are extremely rare, they are generally caused by human error. 'A product is not just going to self-propagate,' she said. She said that the building that was engulfed, based on footage she's seen, was not equipped for fireworks storage. She said it could have been a place where fireworks were being temporarily held, loaded for shipment or prepped for shows. In all of these cases, she said, the facility would have required licensing or the work would have had to abide by certain standards. Often, for example, such facilities are built with noncombustible materials and equipped with rods and plates that personnel can touch to discharge static electricity. One of the riskiest activities performed in such buildings, which she called a potential 'pack house' or 'preparation area,' is installing 'electric matches' on the fireworks so they can be detonated from afar, for public shows. This action can accidentally prompt a deadly spark. 'We're all kind of eager to find out exactly what happened there,' Heckman said.
