A California wildfire spanning thousands of acres came from an unlikely source.
Authorities in California attribute the start of the wildfire, which has set over 7,000 acres of land on fire, to “a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device” used by a group for a gender reveal party in El Dorado Ranch Park, California.
“Law Enforcement has determined the El Dorado Fire, burning near Oak Glen in San Bernardino County, was caused by a smoke generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender reveal party. The fire began,” reads a press release from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “Those responsible for starting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be held financially and criminally responsible.”
CAL FIRE Law Enforcement has determined the El Dorado Fire, burning near Oak Glen in San Bernardino County, was caused by a smoke generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender reveal party. The fire began at… https://t.co/w62ZRuBdNJ
— CAL FIRE BDU (@CALFIREBDU) September 7, 2020
#EldoradoFire evacuation order map. Red Cross reception center at Yucaipa community center. pic.twitter.com/OdEf4RFKEF
— Yucaipa Police (@YucaipaPD) September 7, 2020
The wildfire, among 900 that have been reported since Aug. 15, is being battled by over 500 personnel, six helicopters, 60 engines, and three fixed-wing aircraft, according to state authorities.
Evacuations were ordered for multiple areas, including Yucaipa Ridge, Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village, and Forest Falls, while an evacuation warning is in place for the Yucaipa area.
Fires have destroyed over 1.5 million acres, caused eight deaths, and burned down 3,300 properties.
Author: Anthony Leonardi
Source: Washington Examiner: Pyrotechnic device at gender reveal party sparked large El Dorado wildfire
