A wildfire that broke out in southern California was caused by fireworks at a party to reveal the gender of a baby, firefighters said Sunday (September 6).
Read also: California ravaged by flames, at least 6 dead and 400,000 hectares devastated
More than 500 firefighters and four helicopters were mobilized to fight the fire that broke out on Saturday morning in El Dorado, east of San Bernardino, destroying 2,800 hectares, according to California firefighters (Cal Fire).
Residents of several sectors in the region have been ordered to evacuate their homes.
The fire was caused by "
a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used at a party to reveal the sex of a baby,
" Cal Fire posted on Twitter.
"
Those responsible for starting fires through negligence or due to illegal activities can be held financially and criminally responsible
," he warned.
New heat wave
During these “
gender reveal parties
”, organized during pregnancy, the sex of the expected baby is sometimes revealed by blue or pink smoke during fireworks.
The fire broke out as California experienced another heat wave, with temperatures expected to exceed 43 degrees in the Los Angeles area on Monday.
These temperatures conducive to forest fires come after more than 600,000 hectares of forest had already gone up in smoke in multiple fires, including three of the largest in the history of this state, which had caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in mid-August.
In northern California, more than 200 people trapped by a wildfire had to be evacuated by military helicopter on Sunday.
The blaze started on steep and rugged terrain in the Sierra National Forest about 70 miles northeast of Fresno on Friday.
Another fire quickly spread near San Diego.
