Etta James Farming LLC, represented by attorney Chris Rodriguez of Singleton Schreiber LLP, filed the first civil lawsuit over the deadly Esparto fireworks explosion. The suit alleges illegal, unsafe operations by Devastating Pyrotechnics, BlackStar Fireworks, and property owner Sam Machado, whose negligence allegedly caused the July 1st blast and destructive fire.
The first civil lawsuit related to the deadly July 1 fireworks warehouse explosion in Esparto has been filed in Yolo County Superior Court—not by victims’ families, but by a neighboring farm, Etta James Farming LLC. Represented by Christopher Rodriguez of Singleton Schreiber LLP, the farm is seeking compensation for significant crop and equipment damage after the explosion triggered the Oakdale Fire, burning nearly 80 acres, including 24 acres of wheat and 50 acres of canario beans.
The suit names Devastating Pyrotechnics, BlackStar Fireworks, and their owners, Kenneth Chee and Craig Cutright, along with Sam Machado, a Yolo County Sheriff’s lieutenant who owned and lived on the property where the explosion occurred. The lawsuit alleges the facility was an unlawful, unpermitted commercial-grade fireworks operation, involving the illegal storage and sale of fireworks without safety protocols, inspections, or employee training. It also claims Machado had actual knowledge of the illegal activities and financially benefited from them.
All named parties are under state and federal investigation, and both Chee and Cutright are connected to local law enforcement and firefighting agencies. Additional lawsuits, including wrongful death claims from victims’ families, are expected. The state fire marshal and other agencies continue to investigate the explosion
