Three companies have agreed to pay more than $4 million to settle claims for costs and damages from the El Dorado Fire, which burned nearly 23,000 acres in California's San Bernardino National Forest. The blaze started on September 5, 2020, when a pyrotechnic device used at a gender-reveal party ignited dry grass in Yucaipa park.
Key Takeaways
Three companies have agreed to pay $4 million in settlement after their pyrotechnic devices sparked a deadly wildfire during a gender-reveal party in California. The El Dorado fire burned nearly 23,000 acres and killed one firefighter, Charles Morton.
- Three companies settle for over $4M after causing the El Dorado Fire
- The fire started from a gender reveal pyrotechnic device in Yucaipa park
- Fire destroyed 9 structures and injured multiple people
- Companies failed to warn customers about fire risks of smoke bombs
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settlement Amount | Broad Agreement | $4.05M total settlement paid by companies. | |
| Fire Size | Broad Agreement | Fire burned 23,000 acres and destroyed nine structures. | |
| Firefighter Death | Broad Agreement | Fire killed firefighter Charles Morton. |
Settlement Amount
Broad Agreement$4.05M total settlement paid by companies.
Fire Size
Broad AgreementFire burned 23,000 acres and destroyed nine structures.
Firefighter Death
Broad AgreementFire killed firefighter Charles Morton.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The settlement resolves civil claims brought by the U.S. Forest Service against Wholesale Fireworks Corp, its subsidiary American Fireworks Wholesale LLC, and Pink or Blue Gender Team Inc., according to multiple reports. The companies were sued for designing, importing, distributing, marketing, and advertising the smoke bombs that sparked the fire.
The fire killed veteran firefighter Charles Morton and injured two other firefighters as well as 13 civilians. It also destroyed nine structures and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. The U.S. attorney's office in California announced that the companies failed to safely design and label the smoke bombs, despite being aware of their dangers.
The couple who deployed the smoke bomb at their gender reveal party pleaded guilty to criminal charges in 2024. Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. was sentenced to a year in county jail for involuntary manslaughter, while Angelina Jimenez received a year of summary probation and community service.
How this summary was created
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