Couple whose 2020 gender reveal party sparked deadly California wildfire charged with manslaughter

by



[ad_1]

A smoke bomb set off by the couple in Yucaipa, Calif. On September 5 as part of a gender reveal sparked a blaze that burned more than 22,000 acres in two counties, the San County prosecutor said. Bernardino, Jason Anderson, at a press conference. .
A firefighter was killed while fighting the flames and two others were injured, according to Anderson. The fire destroyed several homes and burned more than 22,000 acres, his office said.
Cal Fire determined that the cause of the fire was a “smoke-generating pyrotechnic device”.

The couple both pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on Tuesday. They were released on their own recognizance until their next scheduled court date in September, Anderson said.

CNN contacted an attorney for the couple but had no response.

“You are obviously dealing with lives lost, lives injured and people’s homes that have been set on fire and their lands that have been set on fire. It encompasses a lot, not just emotion, but damage, both. financially and psychologically, “Anderson said at the press conference.

Man charged with detonating 80 pounds of explosives at gender reveal party in New Hampshire that sparked off, police say

The charges were laid after a grand jury heard 34 witness hearings over four days, he said.

In the end, 434 exhibits were presented to the grand jury, which led to the indictment which was unsealed on Tuesday, which includes one count of manslaughter, three counts. of causing a fire with serious injury, four counts of recklessly causing a fire to inhabited structures and 22 counts of recklessly arson at the property of others, Anderson said.

The blaze “had a huge impact on the San Bernardino community,” Anderson said, adding that at least six agencies “were involved in the containment, extinction and investigation” of the deadly blaze.

Couple indicted in the death of a firefighter

Firefighter Charles Morton, a boss of the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot team, was battling the El Dorado fire when he was killed, CNN previously reported.

The 39-year-old “died while engaged in fire extinguishing operations,” the US Forest Service said in a press release after his death.

Authorities identify firefighter who died fighting fire sparked by gender reveal party
Hotshots are the firefighters on the front line who walk directly into a dangerous fire on steep terrain to strategically plan the best course of action to fight the blazes.

Morton had worked as a firefighter for 18 years, including 14 years with the Forest Service, the statement said.

“Charlie was a highly respected leader who was always there for his team and his team through the most difficult times,” US Forest Service chief Vicki Christiansen said in the statement. “Our hearts go out to Charlie’s loved ones, coworkers, friends and the Big Bear Hotshots. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”

Anderson said on Tuesday that part of the reason the investigation and final prosecution took so long was that authorities wanted to ensure full justice was served.

“Considering the scale and impact of the El Dorado fire on the land and the lives of so many people, especially Charles Morton and his family, it was imperative that every investigation be completed at within federal and state agencies to provide a complete and fair presentation to members of our community, ”said Anderson.



[ad_2]

Source link