Gender reveal party disaster causes huge wildfire in California

A “pyrotechnic device used at a gender reveal party” has caused a fire in California which burned for more than 7,000 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire began on September 5, in the El Dorado Ranch Park, just after 10am. The gender reveal party apparently had a ‘smoke generating pyrotechnic device’, but the Department didn’t confirm how it was able to start the fire.

The Department put out a statement, which said, “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.”

Gender reveal parties often feature parents announcing the gender of their unborn child, usually with elaborate devices that shoot out pink or blue smoke, or cakes which reveal a filling when cut. These gender reveal parties have been a source of controversy before too – a border patrol agent off duty, Dennis Dickey, caused 8 million dollars worth of damage to a nearby forest in Amazon when he shot a target full of a blue explosive.

3000 people have had to be evacuated as the wildfire spread. 12,500 firefighters across the state are currently putting out over 20 major fires, which has been heightened by rising temperatures and dry weather in the state. The temperature reached a high of 49 degrees Celsius in LA over the weekend.