Investigators missed crucial connections between a May 21 fireworks raid in Southern California and a subsequent explosion in Esparto that killed seven people. The raid, which seized over 100,000 pounds of illegal fireworks tied to Kenneth Chee of Devastating Pyrotechnics, has prompted scrutiny over whether state and local regulators should have acted sooner to prevent the tragedy that unfolded just weeks later.
Despite clear evidence from the raid that indicated hazardous materials were being stored improperly, inspectors failed to check the Esparto compound before the July 1 disaster. Experts highlight that the high-grade fireworks involved were improperly labeled, posing significant safety threats, and stress the importance of inspections in preventing such disasters in the future.
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