{"id":1482,"date":"2026-05-11T16:03:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T16:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/did-cal-fire-block-cal-oshas-esparto-explosion-probe-heres-what-to-know-4\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T16:03:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T16:03:03","slug":"did-cal-fire-block-cal-oshas-esparto-explosion-probe-heres-what-to-know-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/did-cal-fire-block-cal-oshas-esparto-explosion-probe-heres-what-to-know-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Cal Fire block Cal-OSHA\u2019s Esparto explosion probe? Here\u2019s what to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Cal-OSHA investigators were allegedly obstructed by Cal Fire arson and bomb investigators while probing the deadly Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion last year. Sources say the interference delayed the workplace safety investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/perfect-spring-weather-for-mosquitoes-what-to-know-about-west-nile-virus-2\/\">\u2018Perfect\u2019 spring weather for mosquitoes. What to know about West Nile virus<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s our story that detailed the rift between the two agencies. And here are key takeaways:<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/father-sues-sacramento-after-officer-allegedly-injured-son-16-for-violating-curfew\/\">Father sues Sacramento after officer allegedly injured son, 16, for violating curfew<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The explosion at a warehouse in Esparto storing Devastating Pyrotechnics fireworks killed seven workers on July 1, 2025. Eight people were later indicted by a Yolo County Grand Jury, with five facing murder charges.<\/li>\n<li>Sources say a four-person Cal Fire arson and bomb unit told witnesses not to speak with Cal-OSHA investigators and withheld documents vital to the workplace safety probe.<\/li>\n<li>Cal Fire spokesperson Emily Weinzheimer said investigators \u201cinitially wanted to ensure all interviews were completed prior to other investigators (OSHA) conducting interviews\u201d to protect the criminal case.<\/li>\n<li>Attorney Mark Berry said Cal Fire investigator Gershom Slonim told Julian Voller \u2014 whose brother Angel, 18, died in the blast \u2014 not to attend a July 21 Cal-OSHA interview. Voller was not interviewed until mid-September.<\/li>\n<li>Maria Melendez, whose husband Joel Melendez Jr. was killed, said Slonim also told her not to speak to Cal-OSHA. \u201cIt felt very controlling,\u201d she said.<\/li>\n<li>Officials said tensions affected the probe to the point that citations would have exceeded the $221,000 assessed if cooperation had been better. Cal-OSHA must complete accident investigations within six months.<\/li>\n<li>The agencies signed a memorandum of understanding in August to resolve the conflict. Families have filed a $35 million claim against Yolo County and state fireworks regulators alleging negligence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em>This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media\u2019s AI policy.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/motorist-killed-another-hospitalized-in-west-roseville-crash-on-baseline-road-2\/\">Motorist killed, another hospitalized in west Roseville crash on Baseline Road<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Families say Cal Fire told witnesses not to speak with Cal\u2011OSHA after the Esparto warehouse explosion, delaying the workplace safety probe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1407,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california","category-local"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Did Cal Fire block Cal-OSHA\u2019s Esparto explosion probe? 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