LOS ANGELES – An Ohio-based smoke bomb designer and importer, along with two other companies, have agreed to pay more than $4 million to the United States for costs and damages stemming from the 2020 El Dorado Fire — a blaze ignited during a gender reveal photo shoot that scorched nearly 23,000 acres and claimed the life of a firefighter.
Wholesale Fireworks Corp., headquartered in Hubbard, Ohio, and its subsidiary, American Fireworks Warehouse LLC, agreed to pay $4 million to settle claims brought on behalf of the United States Forest Service.
A third defendant, Pink or Blue Gender Team Inc., a Florida-based company, agreed to pay $50,000 to settle claims related to the fire.
The fire broke out on September 5, 2020, when a pyrotechnic device was ignited at a couple’s gender reveal party at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa. The blaze spread into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area of the San Bernardino National Forest, burning a total of 22,744 acres, damaging or destroying nine structures and 15 outbuildings, and killing one firefighter.
The couple responsible for the gender reveal party later pleaded guilty to criminal charges in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
In September 2023, the United States sued the three corporate defendants to recover Forest Service firefighting costs and damages to federal land caused by the fire.
Federal prosecutors alleged that the defendants bore liability because the fire was started by a gender reveal smoke bomb that Wholesale and AFW designed, imported, distributed, marketed, and advertised — and that Pink or Blue distributed, marketed, and advertised — which ignited the dry surrounding vegetation.
The defendants further allegedly failed to safely design and label the smoke bombs and neglected to adequately warn customers of the fire risk they posed, despite being aware of the dangers. These smoke bombs should never have been sold into California, where they are illegal.
Assistant United States Attorneys Yujin Chun and Katherine Hikida of the Civil Division handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and no determination of liability has been made.