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A couple whose sex revelation party sparked a wildfire in Southern California last year have been charged with manslaughter over the death of a firefighter who died while fighting the blaze.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson announced at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that the defendants, whom he identified as the Jimenez family, had pleaded not guilty the day before.
The fire in question erupted on September 5 when the couple staged a gender reveal at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains at El Dorado Ranch Park. A smoke-generating device the couple had placed in a field quickly ignited the surrounding dry grass.
The couple attempted to extinguish the blaze with water bottles, but high winds caused the fire to spread through national forests about 75 miles east of Los Angeles.
Charles Morton, 39, leader of the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad, was killed on September 17 when flames engulfed a remote area where firefighters were cutting firebreaks or holes in vegetation or other combustible material intended to slow the spread of fires.
The couple are currently facing one count of manslaughter, three counts of arson with serious injury, four counts of fire of inhabited structures and 22 counts of misdemeanor of property arson by. imprudence.
The blaze burned roughly 35 square miles of land before being brought under control in mid-November. Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate, 13 people were injured and five houses were destroyed.
The couple are due to return to court on September 15.
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