Ohio company one of three to settle in lawsuit over 2020 California wildfire started by gender reveal photo shoot

OHIO — Three companies, including one based in Ohio, have agreed to pay more than $4 million to the United States to settle a lawsuit stemming from their alleged role in a 2020 California wildfire.

The blaze originated in September 2020 when a “pyrotechnic device” was ignited during a gender reveal party at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The smoke-generating device was set off in a field and rapidly ignited dry grass on a sweltering day. The couple desperately attempted to extinguish the flames with bottled water before calling 911, authorities said.

The wildfire burned 22,744 acres, damaged or destroyed several structures and claimed the life of a firefighter.

Powerful winds fueled the fire as it tore through wilderness on national forest land roughly 75 miles east of Los Angeles. Charles Morton, the 39-year-old leader of the elite Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad, was killed on Sept. 17, 2020, when flames overran a remote area where firefighters were cutting fire breaks. Morton had served as a firefighter for 18 years, primarily with the U.S. Forest Service.

While the couple responsible for the gender reveal party pleaded guilty to criminal charges, the federal government filed suit against the three companies in 2023 to recover costs incurred fighting the fire and to seek compensation for damage sustained by federal land.

Those companies include Hubbard, Ohio-based Wholesale Fireworks Corp. and its subsidiary, American Fireworks Wholesale LLC. The third company is Florida-based Pink or Blue Gender Team Inc.

Wholesale Fireworks Corp. and American Fireworks Wholesale LLC agreed to pay $4 million, while Pink or Blue Gender Team Inc. agreed to pay $50,000.

“The United States alleged that the defendants were liable because the fire was caused by a gender reveal smoke bomb that Wholesale and AFW designed, imported, distributed, marketed, and advertised and Pink or Blue distributed, marketed, and advertised that ignited the dry vegetation,” the release reads.

The release further alleges that the companies failed to “safely design and label the smoke bombs” and that customers were not adequately warned about the risk of fire. The DOJ also noted that such smoke bombs are illegal in California.

“The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability,” the release reads.