Firefighter dies battling wildfire sparked by gender reveal party
LOS ANGELES — A firefighter died battling a wildfire in California that officials said was sparked by a device used to reveal a baby’s gender.
The death happened Thursday in the San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement.
The fire erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating device used by a couple to reveal their baby’s gender, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said.
The name of the firefighter was being withheld until family members are notified. The cause of the death was under investigation.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and fellow firefighters during this time,” Forest Service spokesperson Zach Behrens said in the statement.
No other information was released and Behrens said in a telephone interview he could not comment beyond details in the statement
A Cal Fire statement said it was the 26th death involving wildfires besieging the state.
Cal Fire said earlier this month the fire was ignited Sept. 5 when a couple, their young children and someone who recorded video staged the baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park at the foot of the San Bernardino
Mountains.
The device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to extinguish the flames and called 911.
Authorities have not released the identities of the couple, who could face criminal charges and be held liable for the cost of fighting the fire.
In 2017, a massive Arizona wildfire was started by an off-duty Border Patrol agent who shot a target filled with an explosive blue powder at a gender reveal. The fire burned 73 square miles and caused $8 million in damage, The agent was charged with a misdemeanor and sentenced to probation.