7,000-acre wildfire caused by gender reveal party, officials determine

Wildfire caused by gender reveal party, officials determine (NCD)

By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

September 07, 2020 at 7:30 am EDT

YUCAIPA, Calif. — Officials have discovered the cause of one of the wildfires that are currently burning across California.

Officials with Cal Fire said the fire dubbed the El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino County, was started Saturday morning by a “smoke generating pyrotechnic device” that was being used as part of a gender reveal party, CNN reported.

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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.

A post shared by CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit (@calfirebdu) on Sep 6, 2020 at 8:08pm PDT

The fire has burned more than 7,000 acres as of Monday, according to CNN. It is only about 5% contained, NBC News reported.

#EldoradoFire evacuation order map. Red Cross reception center at Yucaipa community center. pic.twitter.com/OdEf4RFKEF
— Yucaipa Police (@YucaipaPD) September 7, 2020

People are being ordered to evacuate and more than 500 firefighters, 60 engines and four helicopters are trying to battle back the blaze, CNN reported.

This wildfire is among 23 major fires burning on the West Coast, NBC News reported.

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