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El Dorado fire sparked by smoke generating pyrotechnic device at party, Internet says 'fine the family'

CAL Fire San Bernardino Unit revealed that the device used during a gender reveal party in El Dorado Ranch Park was the cause of fire

YUCAIPA, CALIFORNIA: A massive bushfire has spread to almost 7,050 acres near Yucaipa. This led many residents in the area vacating and leaving their homes under mandatory evacuation orders, as reported by ABC7. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for several counties, including San Bernardino due to the ‘El Dorado Fire’, as per the report.

According to the CAL Fire San Bernardino Unit, the cause of the fire is "a smoke generating pyrotechnic device" used during a gender reveal party in El Dorado Ranch Park. The fire spread from the park to Yucaipa Ridge, which divides Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls from Yucaipa. They shared it on their official Twitter and Instagram page. They wrote, “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 10:23 am on September 5, 2020 in the El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa. The fire spread from the park to the north on to Yucaipa Ridge that separates Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls from the City of Yucaipa.”

The agency also added in the statement, "Cal Fire reminds the public that with the dry conditions and critical fire weather, it doesn’t take much to start a wildfire. Those responsible for starting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be held financially and criminally responsible."

An hour after the fire began, Cal Fire issued an evacuation order for the community of Oak Glen. The evacuation area included Oak Glen Road through to Wildwood Canyon Rd. Just before 1.30 pm, the orders were extended to include Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls and North Bench Yucaipa, which included all residents north of Yucaipa Boulevard, east of Bryant.

There were evacuation orders issued later for Yucaipa residents east of Jefferson Street from Oak Glen Road to Yucaipa Ridge. The Red Cross set up an evacuation center at the Yucaipa Community Center. Highway 38 at Bryant Street in Yucaipa and the community of Angelus Oaks, and Oak Glen Road between Pine Bench Road and Cherry Croft Drive were closed. A portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness was also closed, and hikers were requested to leave. According to reports, helicopters and fixed-wing aircrafts were seen spreading water and Phos-Chek on the flames. Firefighters from multiple agencies were braving a heatwave that brought triple-digit temperatures to the area.

As quoted by ABC7, CAL FIRE Capt. Thomas Shoots said, “these areas are known for wind-shifts, which changes the fire dynamic. (It) can push the fire back on you when otherwise you'd be totally okay. A lot of interesting dynamics here. You top that off with the extreme terrain that we're dealing with here... it's pretty extreme.” Till now, no injuries have been reported. Officials have not released details about structural damage.

As per the report, CAL FIRE said nearly 12,500 firefighters were trying to contain 22 major fires in the state. Even after the heat, firefighters were able to contain two major fires in coastal Monterey County.

Soon Twitter users reacted to the news of the cause of the fire. One said, "A very serious followup for everyone seeing this: We can't avoid all accidents, that's why they're an accident. However, there are LEGITIMATELY BAD IDEAS that if you took a step back and thought about, you'd realize that "Oh, maybe I shouldn't do that." Have your actions follow."

Another commented, "How about we stop using explosives at these gender reveal parties. Or better yet, just call your friends & family your baby's gender! We shouldn't be having parties during a deadly pandemic anyways!"

One user stated, "They should be fined immediately for breaking the law. Unacceptable to be having a gender reveal party with fireworks in the middle of a heatwave and ubiquitous fire danger warnings."

One stated, "The reveal of the gender of your child should not affect the environment, the lives of people and destruction of property. Strangers don't care about your child's gender. They do care about being trapped by fire or losing their homes."

One user said, "Thank you to all firefighting personnel. This family seriously didn’t think this out & during the hottest weekend and using pyrotechnics? They should be held accountable for their carelessness. Celebrating life while causing the destruction of nature & it’s wildlife."