Just days before the United States marks its Independence Day with the Fourth of July celebrations, a large fireworks factory has caught fire and exploded repeatedly, sending residents scattering.
Out of nowhere in the town of Esparto in Yolo County, northern California, huge explosions tore through the afternoon air on Tuesday, sending local residents fleeing as fireworks flew overhead and started a growing fire.
Repeated bursts of fireworks from the exploding facility left several streets in the rural community shut down, while Yolo County sheriffs attempted to evacuate the area. Winters Police Department said there were several "large explosions", with the fire still ongoing several hours later.
Jaw-dropping footage from the facility's active fire, captured by a local CBS chopper observing a nearby wildfire, shows the massive explosions coming from the incident.
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The repeated detonations can be seen giving off sparks and popping in between the booming explosions, sending a growing smoke plume over northern California.
This plume is estimated to be up to 15,000ft in height.
The fire from the exploding storage facility has spread to surrounding vegetation during the region's already dry season.
California Fire ground and air units are responding to control the growing blaze.
A one-mile evacuation zone has been established around the site, as the fire spreads into the brush around Highway 16.
The Yolo sheriff's office said: “We urge everyone to avoid the area so that fire crews and emergency responders can safely do their work.”

They added: “At this time, the cause of the explosion remains unknown.
"The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office will share updates as more information becomes available.”
There have been no immediate reports of injuries in the aftermath of the massive explosions coming from the fireworks facility. An investigation is underway into what caused the incident.
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