A gender reveal party gone wrong results in a horrifying California wildfire
Officials have blamed a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device for starting the fire.
A couple’s gender reveal party has gone up in flames and not in the blue or pink smoke they hoped for.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, has blamed a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device, which was intended to release coloured smoke indicating whether the couple were expecting a boy or girl, for starting the fire.
The wildfire quickly grew out of control and has burned thousands of hectares and have forced people to flee from a city east of Los Angeles.
More than 500 firefighters and four helicopters are attempting to bring the El Dorado blaze east of San Bernardino, under control.
California is currently experiencing a record heatwave, with Los Angeles reporting its highest ever temperature of 49.4C.
The National Weather Service described Sunday as “one of the hottest days since weather records began across much of south-western California”.
Jenna Karvunidis, who is largely credited with starting the “gender reveal” party trend is pleading for everyone to stop.
“Stop it. Stop having these stupid parties,” she pleaded to followers on Facebook.
“For the love of God, stop burning things down to tell everyone about your kid’s penis. No one cares but you.”
Jenna’s gender reveal party, that started the trend in 2008, involved cutting a cake to reveal pink icing inside – a girl – but in recent years gender reveal parties in America have involed fireworks or explosives.
Jenna Karvunidis started the trend for gender reveal parties back in 2018 with a modest celebration.
In 2017, a blue explosive started an Arizona fire that burned 7700 hectares and cost the party organisers $US8 million ($A11 million).
The couple responsible for this latest wildfire could be liable for the cost of fighting the fire and criminally charged.
