Firefighter dies fighting blaze sparked by gender reveal party, California officials say
A firefighter has died in the fire sparked by a device at a gender reveal party earlier this month, California forest officials said.
The El Dorado Fire, which has burned thousands of acres in Southern California, resulted in the death of a firefighter on Thursday, San Bernardino National Forest officials wrote on Twitter. As of Friday morning, the fire has scorched more than 21,000 acres and was at 66% containment.
The firefighter’s name is being withheld “pending notification of next of kin,” officials wrote.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and fellow firefighters during this time,” forest officials wrote. “The cause is under investigation. More details will be made available as they are confirmed.”
The fire was started by a “smoke-generating pyrotechnic device” used at a gender reveal party on Sept. 5, McClatchy News reported, citing a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection news release. The fire spread from the El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa to Yucaipa Ridge, officials said.
Pink or blue smoke has been used at gender reveal parties to show the sex of the baby.
The firefighter was reported missing in the San Bernardino National Forest on Thursday while fighting the blaze, CBS Los Angeles reported.
The fire spread past Forsee Creek toward San Bernardino Peak, according to the TV station. There are still evacuation orders for Mountain Home Village, Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks and Forest Falls, CBS Los Angeles reported.
