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22nd Jul 2021

Couple charged with manslaughter after gender reveal party wildfire

Ellen Fitzpatrick

They could be facing 20 years.

A couple in Southern California could be seeing a lengthy sentence after their gender reveal party was the reason behind a massive wildfire that killed a fireman.

The couple could be facing up to 20 years in prison after the party they held allegedly started the deadly fire.

San Bernadino County District Attorney Jason Anderson revealed on Tuesday that Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and Angela Renee Jimenez are facing serious charges.

It is said by officials that the couple used a “smoke generating pyrotechnic device’ at their celebration that ended up causing a widespread wildfire.”

The couple are pleading not guilty to involuntary manslaughter as well as recklessly causing a fire with bodily harm and other misdemeanour counts pertaining to the fire.

El Dorado Park near Yucaipa, California, was set a blaze which then progressed to a wildfire due to such dry conditions.

Injuring two firefighters and killing on, Charles Morton, along with 13 civilians and destroyed many homes.

Anderson said in a press conference: “Given the scope and impact of the El Dorado fire on the land and lives of so many, particularly Charles Morton and his family, every investigation needed to be completed within both federal and state agencies to provide a full and fair presentation to the members of our community that made up the grand jury.”

The San Bernadino National Forest gave a statement on Twitter from the US Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen about the firefighter’s death, saying their “hearts go out to Charlie’s loved ones, friends, coworkers, and the Big Bear Hotshots.”

They wrote: “Thursday evening we lost one of our own. Charlie Morton, Squad Boss for the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew of the San Bernardino National Forest, was tragically killed during efforts to suppress the El Dorado Fire on their home unit.

“Our hearts go out to Charlie’s loved ones, friends, coworkers and the Big Bear Hotshots.”