California fireworks warehouse catches fire, explodes

A fireworks warehouse caught on fire Tuesday causing a massive explosion in Northern California, just days before July 4.

The fire broke out at 5:50 p.m. in Esparto, Calif., the Esparto Fire Protection District said during a press conference. The fire was brought largely under control by Wednesday morning but the cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Law enforcement officials have yet to comment on whether the fire resulted in any injuries or deaths, according to CBS Sacramento. 

However, some people told the local outlet that they had loved ones believed to be in the warehouse at the time of the fire and that they have not yet been reached.

What began as white smoke quickly became a massive explosion, video footage shows.

Yolo County officials issued mandatory evacuations for residents within a one-mile radius of the fire. Esparto is a small rural town with a population of less than 4,000 near Sacramento, Calif.

The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Tuesday night that it was not “investigating anything criminal at this time,” but that California’s State Fire Marshal Arson and Bomb Unit was taking the lead in investigating the episode.