On September 5, 2020, a gender reveal party in Yucaipa, California, turned into a devastating wildfire that burned nearly 47,000 acres and caused over $8 million in damage. The El Dorado Fire was sparked by a pyrotechnic device used in the celebration, which was meant to reveal the sex of the couple's unborn child.

The $4.05 million settlement

Wholesale Fireworks Corp., American Fireworks Warehouse LLC, and Pink or Blue Gender Team Inc. have agreed to settle a federal lawsuit filed by the government over the El Dorado Fire. The companies will pay a total of $4.05 million to settle the lawsuit.

The settlement is a significant step towards holding manufacturers accountable for their role in wildfires caused by consumer products, said prosecutors. The case highlights the indirect role of manufacturers in wildfires caused by consumer products, said Adam Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Indirect liability and the role of manufacturers

Utility companies are often held liable for negligence in starting wildfires,whereas manufacturers can argue that they have no duty to prevent third parties from using their products unreasonably. However , the El Dorado Fire case is unusual in that it holds manufacturers accountable for their role in wildfires caused by consumer products.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of using pyrotechnic devices in public spaces and the importance of holding manufacturers accountable for their role in wildfires caused by consumer products, said San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson.

A familiar pattern from the 2017 Arizona wildfire

The El Dorado Fire is not the first time a gender reveal party has caused a destructive wildfire. In 2017, a gender reveal party in Arizona sparked a wildfire that burned nearly 47,000 acres and caused over $8 million in damage. However, in that case,no manufacturers were sued.

The El Dorado Fire is a stark reminder of the dangers of using pyrotechnic devices in public spaces and the importance of holding manufacturers accountable for their role in wildfires caused by consumer products.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The companies allegedly failed to safely design and label the smoke bombs and failed to properly warn customers about the fire risk of the smoke bombs, despite being aware of their dangers, prosecutors said.

The case highlights the indirect role of manufacturers in wildfires caused by consumer products, said Adam Zimmerman ,a professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.