Birds chirped and traffic appeared normal - apart from the bustle at the local fire department in the center of town - as responders continued to manage the remains of the fireworks facility that exploded barely a mile away, just a few days before. "No one understands unless you were here," said Toni Mendieta, library branch supervisor.

In the first moments after explosions at a fireworks warehouse in Esparto rocked the community, a man who lived nearby sprang into action towards falling flames and live fireworks, just hoping he could help.

Rescue crews were searching on Thursday for seven people still missing days after an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Northern California shook a tiny farming community and forced the cancellation of nearby July Fourth celebrations.