Calif. couple faces manslaughter charges for allegedly igniting fire
A smoke bomb used at the couple's gender reveal party sparked the El Dorado Fire that caused the death of one firefighter.
What started as a couple’s celebration to reveal their baby’s gender spiraled into a months-long wildfire that burned over 22,000 acres and caused the death of one firefighter fighting the blaze, according to California authorities, who recently charged Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and Angela Renee Jimenez with involuntary manslaughter.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a press release that on September 5, 2020, the Jimenezes used a smoke bomb to reveal the gender of their pregnancy at the El Dorado Park in Yucaipa, Calif, which sparked a brush fire that became known as the El Dorado Fire.
The fire caused the death of Charles Morton, a firefighter with the US. Forest Service, while he was engaged in fire suppression operations. According to CNN, the 39-year-old was a Big Bear Interagency Hotshot squad boss who served as a firefighter for 18 years, including 14 years with the Forest Service.
“Charlie was a well-respected leader who was always there for his squad and his crew at the toughest times,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen in a September 2020 release. “Our hearts go out to Charlie’s loved ones, coworkers, friends, and the Big Bear Hotshots. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”
The blaze injured two additional firefighters.
The Jimenezes pleaded not guilty to one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, three felony counts of recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, four felony counts of recklessly causing a fire to inhabited structures, and 22 misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing a fire to the property of another. The charges were filed after a grand jury heard 34 witness interviews and reviewed 434 pieces of evidence.
Estimates from RMS state that 2020′s U.S. wildfire season, including the El Dorado Fire, caused a record-breaking $7 billion to $13 billion in insured losses, with five of the six largest-ever Califonia fires occurring last year. However, the 2021 wildfire season is on pace to surpass 2020′s activity amidst a historic drought. An update from CalFire states that between Jan. 1 and July 4, 2021, 4,599 fires burned 114.8 square miles. For the same period last year, 3,847 fires scorched 48.6 square miles.
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