$4M settlement after gender reveal ignited deadly SoCal wildfire

Three companies will pay more than $4 million to resolve claims tied to the catastrophic El Dorado Fire, the 2020 Southern California wildfire sparked by a gender reveal celebration that claimed the life of a firefighter and scorched thousands of acres.According to the US Department of Justice, Ohio-based Wholesale Fireworks Corp.and its subsidiary, American Fireworks Wholesale LLC, agreed to pay $4 million to settle claims brought on behalf of the US Forest Service.A third company, Florida-based Pink or Blue Gender Team Inc., will pay an additional $500,000.The legal action stemmed from the Sept.

5, 2020, blaze that erupted at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa after a pyrotechnic device used during a couple’s gender reveal party ignited dry vegetation.The fire rapidly spread into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area within the San Bernardino National Forest.By the time it was contained, the El Dorado Fire had consumed nearly 23,000 acres and destroyed 10 structures.The wildfire also killed Big Bear Interagency Hotshots firefighter Charlie Morton.The US filed suit against the three companies in September 2023, seeking reimbursement for firefighting expenses and damage to federal land.Federal officials alleged the companies were responsible because the smoke bomb involved in the incident had been designed, imported, distributed, marketed and advertised by Wholesale Fireworks and American Fireworks Wholesale, while Pink or Blue also distributed, marketed and advertised the product.“The defendants further allegedly failed to safely design and label the smoke bombs and failed to properly warn customers about the fire risk of the smoke bombs, despite being aware of their dangers.These smoke bombs should never have been sold into California, where they are illegal,” the DOJ release stated.Separately, the couple who hosted the gender reveal party pleaded guilty in 2024 to criminal charges filed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney....