Posted on 06/03/2026 11:02:26 AM PDT by BenLurkin
An Ohio-based smoke bomb designer and two other companies have agreed to pay more than $4 million to the United States to settle a lawsuit over a gender reveal that literally went up in smoke back in 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A pyrotechnic device at a couple’s gender reveal party in Yucapia’s El Dorado Ranch Park on Sept. 5, 2020 sparked the El Dorado Fire, which burned nearly 23,000 acres and caused a firefighter’s death.
Hubbard, Ohio-based Wholesale Fireworks Corp. and its Hudson, Ohio-based subsidiary, American Fireworks Wholesale Inc., agreed to pay the $4 million to settle the claims brought on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service.
A third defendant, Florida-based Pink or Blue Gender Team Inc., agreed to pay $50,000 to settle claims related to the fire.
The fire spread to the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area of the San Bernardino National Forest, burned a total of 22,744 acres, damaged and/or destroyed nine structures and 15 outbuildings and killed one firefighter.
The couple responsible for the gender reveal party later pleaded guilty to criminal charges in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
So a legally operating fire-works company in OH needs to have fire-works that are less “burny” for California????
If the fools who started this fire had used gasoline, would the ambulance-chasers be suing Chevron?
Sounds a little hinky.
Someone still trying to play doctor with young ones?
Yuk
I can see it now. "Amy, you revealed your coming child as a female a few months ago. I was just changing the child's diaper, and I see a penis. What give?"
This is insanity. Next they will be suing the manufacturer of the lighter which lit the fuse.
Insanity.
I am operating under the assumption that the firework malfunctioned and caused the fire.
Ah, I read the article:
“ The companies allegedly also failed to safely design and label the smoke bombs and failed to properly warn customers about the fire risk from the smoke bombs, despite being aware of the dangers.
The smoke bombs should never have been sold in California, where they are illegal, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.”
Only the couple should have to pay. This is ridiculous.
“A pyrotechnic device at a couple’s gender reveal party in Yucapia’s El Dorado Ranch Park on Sept. 5, 2020 sparked the El Dorado Fire, which burned nearly 23,000 acres and caused a firefighter’s death.” A gender reveal party, is this story real?
The way the law holds "the cause" of losses due to fire as the source of ignition is absurd when the real determinant of the magnitude of that loss is the distribution of fuel.
Of course, the reason we don't do that is that the biggest and most irresponsible owner of said fuel loads is the Fed-or-ill Grub-a-mint.
Every firework I’ve ever touched said “Caution - Flammable” and “Dangerous”. Kind of implicit in the purchase...
I saw the headline, then read the excerpt and thought, “Whew. At least they didn’t use Tannerite...”
This goes past ‘misdemeanor ignorance’ and into ‘felony stupidity’.
It baffles me that any business sells anything other than pool noodles in California. Maybe those are illegal there too?
Meanwhile, leftist State Attorneys General are suing to allow companies to ship abortifacients into states that have banned them - and the Supreme Court allows it until the case is heard.
I read a bit more about this.
The manufacturing company knowingly shipped to California, where they are illegal.
The smoke bombs also weren’t supposed to produce an open flame or move. These flew through the air on fire due to shoddy design and manufacturing.
Agree with you on the stupid family, but bit like a firearm that goes off when dropped instead of when you pull the trigger. (I have a -1880 Schofield pistol that will do this. It’s why cowboys kept the hammer on an empty chamber.)
Bingo. The State of California caused a statewide tinderbox as evidenced by multiple catastrophic fires over the last several years. The $4M should be taken from the salaries and pensions of everyone from the state that fueled these problems.
I agree, their stupid pop culture party.
Our lawyers go for the “deep pockets”...
This is ridiculous.”
Yes. Posting without reading the article.
THERE IS A CLEAR GROUP OF US PEOPLE THAT CANNOT DECIPHER ANY INSTRUCTIONS-—NO MATTER HOW SIMPLE.
Who will actually get this settlement money?
Karen “I let Palisades Burn Down” bASS?
The primary cause was this idiotic trend of “gender reveal” parties.
When and why did this foolishness become a thing? Before routine ultrasounds no one actually knew until the kid was born.
When we had my daughter, my wife had an ultrasound as recommended. We specifically told them we did NOT want to know what it is, just that they are healthy. This was in the very early 90s.
We found out when she was born.
I find all of this “gender reveal” crap to just be more of the “look at me” garbage so prevalent today.
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