Father Sentenced After Gender Reveal Photo Shoot Sparks Fatal California Wildfire

Father Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter After Gender Reveal Fire

A father, Refugio Jimenez Jr., has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after a gender reveal photo shoot led to the deadly El Dorado Fire in California in 2020. The fire, triggered by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device during the photo shoot, caused the death of firefighter Charles Morton.

Jimenez Jr. was sentenced to a year in jail, two years of felony probation, and 200 hours of community service.

Incident Details

The incident occurred when Jimenez Jr. and his family staged a photo shoot for their baby's gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, California. Their use of a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device led to the ignition of dry grass, resulting in the fatal wildfire.

The blaze, which injured 13 people, destroyed homes, and forced widespread evacuations, ultimately blackened nearly 36 square miles of land in San Bernardino and Riverside counties before it was contained.

Lesson Learned

The tragic outcome of this event serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from such seemingly innocent celebrations.