A number of forest fires have returned to the region of California, United States (US).
One of them was allegedly due to a firework that was lit at the gender reveal party.
As reported by AFP on Monday (7 September 2020), the fire known as the El Dorado (El Dorado Fire) burned an area of 2,800 hectares and forced many residents to flee their homes.
More than 500 firefighters and four fire helicopters were deployed to extinguish the fires that have raged in the eastern region of San Bernardino, southern California since Saturday (September 5) morning.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL FIRE, said residents in a number of local neighborhoods had been ordered to flee to safer locations.
“CAL FIRE law enforcement has determined that the El Dorado fire that broke out near Oak Glen in San Bernardino County, was caused by a smoke-inducing pyrotechnic device used during a gender reveal party,” said a CAL FIRE statement via Twitter.
Gender reveal party refers to the party that reveals the gender of an unborn baby.
The gender of the baby is usually announced by fireworks emitting pink or blue smoke.
“Those responsible for igniting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be held accountable financially and criminally,” CAL FIRE said in a statement.
