DA serves warrant at Esparto fire station, chief’s home over fireworks explosion

Investigators from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office searched the home, office and vehicles of Esparto Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence as part of the criminal investigation into the fireworks explosion that killed seven people and ignited the 78-acre Oakdale Fire.

A warrant, obtained Friday by The Sacramento Bee and authorized weeks after the blast, was issued allowing prosecutors to seize Lawrence’s personal and work electronic devices, including his phone and computer. The search extended to the Esparto Fire Protection District’s station, 16960 Yolo Ave.; Lawrence’s personal and professional vehicles; and his Esparto home.

The warrant reviewed by The Bee does not state what, if anything, was ultimately seized, nor when the warrant was executed. Instead, it lays out the scope of wha