Tearful Mother Begs Firefighters to Let Her onto Scene of California Fireworks Explosion Where Her 3 Sons Worked: ‘I Want to Search for My Kids’

A mother who said her three children worked at the California fireworks facility that was the scene of an explosion is pleading with fire officials to let her help in the search for her loved ones.

Marisol Ramos recently told Today on Friday, July 4, that she has not heard from her three sons since the Tuesday, July 1, explosion in Esparto. Seven people were unaccounted for, according to officials.

Authorities said at the time they could not move forward with the search until the scene was safe due to the potential dangers.

Ramos, who immediately went over to the facility on the evening of the disaster, told Today that she hasn’t received any answers since the incident. 

“Let us do it,” a tearful Ramos said. “I’m willing to go in … I want to search for my kids.”

According to the family, the missing brothers are Jesus Ramos, 18, John Ramos, 22, and Joel “Junior” Melendez, 28, Fox affiliate KTVU reported. 

Syanna Ruiz, the girlfriend of Jesus Ramos, told local outlet KSBW that Tuesday was her boyfriend’s first day on the job at the facility.

“We have a baby on the way,” she said. “They were saying that there was a warning beforehand, but somebody is behind this. There’s no way that this just happened.”

Ruiz also told ABC affiliate KXTV that Jesus was “excited” for the “new chapter” in their lives. He was working alongside Johnny and Junior.

“They were all three incredible men who had so much coming for them,” she said. “And I’m just praying to God someway, somehow, that they’re okay.”

In a Wednesday, July 2, update, officials said emergency responders have been working to gain access to the facility “to conduct recovery operations and bolster investigative efforts for the explosion investigation.” They added that the scene “remains active and hazardous with explosions continuing to occur throughout the afternoon and evening.”

The County of Yolo, where Esparto sits, said in an update on Thursday, July 3, that progress has been made in stabilizing the site and evacuation orders have been reduced in certain areas due to improved ground conditions and real-time risk assessments. It also said that utility crews are working to restore power to the affected areas. 

“Field crews remain in the area to monitor evolving hazards and ensure public safety,” the county said in its update. 

“Due to the presence of known explosive materials on site, explosive ordinance disposal experts are working alongside fire personnel to ensure safety during suppression activities,” the county’s update further stated.  

Area residents recalled feeling and hearing Tuesday’s massive blast. 

“Initially people thought it was a plane crash or something like that,” Yolo County librarian Diana Lopez told The Sacramento Bee. “Most of us didn’t know there was a fireworks facility so close by.”

“It felt like an earthquake,” Jairo Frausto, 14, told the newspaper. 

The fireworks facility reportedly housed large pyrotechnics for aerial displays in Northern California, including for events scheduled for the July 4th holiday on Friday, per The New York Times. 

Devastating Pyrotechnics, the fireworks company, issued a statement on its website that read: “Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel. Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation.”

Local officials, however, have not confirmed whether there were any casualties from the incident, the Times reported. 

CAL FIRE is leading the investigation into the incident, said officials. 

PEOPLE contacted the County of Yolo on Friday, July 4, for additional updates.