Families of 7 killed in Esparto fireworks explosion hold vigil one year later, continue push for justice
By Andres Valle
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ESPARTO, California (KCRA) — One year after the deadly fireworks facility explosion in Esparto killed seven men, their families gathered Wednesday night at the same site where they had once waited for answers — this time to honor their loved ones, share their grief and renew calls for accountability.
The seven men killed were Jhony Ramos, Jesus Ramos, Joel Melendez, Christopher Bocog, Angel Voller, Carlos Rodriguez-Mora and Neil Li, the general manager of Devastating Pyrotechnics.
For the families left behind, the pain remains unimaginable.
“We’re bonded for life,” Tiffany-Nolan Rodriguez, whose husband Carlos Rodriguez-Mora was killed in the explosion, said at the vigil. “And that shouldn’t be a bond. It should be barbecues and birthday parties. It shouldn’t be this kind of a bond.”
Rodriguez said she spoke with her husband just seven minutes before the blast.
“I talked to him seven minutes before the blast,” Rodriguez said. “I’m one of the lucky ones; we got to say, ‘I love you.’”
Maria Melendez, whose husband Joel Melendez was killed, said the past year has been consumed by grief and survival.
“This last year has just basically been about surviving,” Melendez said.
Rodriguez said the tragedy cannot be reduced to a single loss.
“There’s seven. There’s seven lives, not just my husband,” Rodriguez said.
Melendez, who was pregnant when her husband was killed, later gave birth to their youngest son. She said one of the hardest parts has been knowing her child will only know his father through images and recordings.
“I show videos, he’ll say, ‘Dad,’” Melendez said. “So it sucks that this is the only way that I can keep his memory alive is through pictures and videos.”
Rodriguez said the last year has been filled with painful milestones for her children.
“Paige turned 14. She graduated with honors from eighth grade. And he wasn’t here for any of it,” Rodriguez said.
During Wednesday night’s vigil, families lit candles, shared photos and laid flowers in memory of the men killed. But the gathering was also a call for justice.
“More should have been done. More can still be done,” Melendez said.
“All the families, we’re not going to stop fighting for accountability and justice,” she said.
Rodriguez described the past year simply: “It’s been a lot this year.”
Still, both women said they are determined to make sure the victims are remembered and that those responsible are held accountable.
A jury has indicted eight people in connection with the explosion, but families say major questions remain about how the illegal fireworks operation was able to grow for nearly a decade without being stopped.
The blast remains one of California’s deadliest fireworks disasters.
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