As of Monday morning, at least 7,386 acres of California land has burned because of a baby gender reveal party Saturday morning. A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device that releases either pink or blue smoke in order to “reveal” to party goers if the unborn child is a boy or girl. California is currently experiencing a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures of up to 122 degrees.
On Sunday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in five counties and a statewide emergency due to the high temperatures and fire conditions across the state. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Bennet Milloy told DailyMail.co.uk they were confident the gender reveal party started the fire because the party hosts “were still there…that, and the fact that there were surveillance cameras in the park.”
Milloy described it as a small family gathering and said they could be held responsible by facing jail time and massive fines even though he believes it was an accident. In a press release put out by the Department on Sunday explained the fire “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.” “CAL FIRE reminds the public that 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” the release stated.
Milloy also said those responsible for causing the fire could face civil and criminal charges as well as be held liable for the entire cost of putting the fire out which could amount to “many millions of dollars.” Civil costs deemed “suppression costs” are “charges associated with hundreds of firefighters, engines, helicopters, and planes,” reported DailyMail.co.uk. Criminal charges fall under “a variety of charges” said Milloy, which could be more severe if homes are destroyed. “The family could be hit with violations of public resources codes and even arson, under California penal code section 452. Arson convictions can result in a sentence of up to nine years”
