SAEDNEWS: A powerful blast in Yolo County sent a towering column of smoke into the sky and prompted evacuations as firefighters battled spot fires through the night.
According to Saed News, a sudden explosion in the rural community of Esparto, about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento, erupted just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, generating successive secondary blasts and a massive plume of smoke. The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident, which quickly escalated into what Cal Fire has called the Oakdale Fire.
At a 9 p.m. press briefing, Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence said crews had secured a one‑mile perimeter and were focusing on extinguishing smaller spot fires that ignited in nearby vegetation along Highway 16 and Oakdale Ranch Lane. Forward progress of the fire was stopped at roughly 78 acres by midnight.
Residents reported hearing a thunderous detonation followed by multiple aftershocks, leading local authorities to shut down several roads and activate an evacuation zone. Firefighters from Esparto, Madison, and Winters, alongside Cal Fire’s ground and aerial units, worked through the night to contain the blaze.
No serious injuries have been reported. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway, and officials have urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency responders to operate safely and efficiently.
