'Gender Reveal' Ignited 8,600-Acre El Dorado Blaze: Cal Fire

YUCAIPA, CA —Evacuation orders for a massive Inland Empire fire that officials said ignited at a “gender reveal” in Yucaipa were extended to a portion of Cherry Valley in Riverside County Monday.

The El Dorado Fire burning in the Yucaipa area grew to 8,600 acres Monday amid a record-setting heat wave.

#ElDoradoFire (8,600 Acres/7% contained) morning update for Sept. 7:

On Yucaipa Ridge's south slope, it continued to burn throughout the night making a significant push downslope from Wilshire Peak to below Pine Bench Rd., impacting structures.

More: https://t.co/ESgYRDoaX7 pic.twitter.com/KnvwH3Q7d2
— San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) September 7, 2020

The U.S. Forest Service said evacuation orders were in place for residents living in the area between the county line to the north, Beaumont Avenue to the west, Orchard Street to the south and Nancy Lane to the east.

A map of the evacuation area can be found here.

UPDATE #ElDoradoFire - Evacuation Order Map to include Riverside County @CALFIREBDU @CityofYucaipa @SBCOUNTYFIRE @SanBernardinoNF pic.twitter.com/1CsixFlUVh
— Yucaipa Police (@YucaipaPD) September 7, 2020

The Beaumont Police Department confirmed that there were currently no evacuation orders in the city, even though some residents received evacuation alerts.

The American Red Cross set up evacuation centers at Yucaipa Community Center, Steele Canyon High School and Joan MacQueen Middle School, where the organization is providing evacuees with hotel rooms.

The wildfire, which was 7% contained as of Monday, has also led to numerous evacuation orders in San Bernardino County.

Cal Fire officials said the blaze was sparked at about 10:20 a.m. Saturday by a smoke-emitting firework used at a gender-reveal gathering at El Dorado Ranch Park.

Record heat and dry conditions helped the fire quickly spread north to the Yucaipa Ridge, fire officials said.

The Desert Sun reported that the family who planned the gathering was cooperating with authorities and that no charges have been filed yet.

Fire officials told the publication that the family called 911 after trying to extinguish the blaze themselves. They remained on the scene until firefighters arrived according to the report.

Cal Fire Capt. Bennet Milloy said the blaze remains under investigation according to the report.

``Those responsible for starting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be held financially responsible and criminally responsible,'' CalFire officials said Sunday.

Milloy said investigators are testing the mechanism used in the reveal to see it’s considered a “safe and sane” firework.

But he said “safe and sane” pyrotechnic devices are illegal in Yucaipa according to the report.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or structure damage due to the fire, which the possibility of charges being filed against the family would hinge on according to the report.

Milloy described the gender reveal as a gathering of immediate family at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa for a "selfie," not a party as officials had earlier described it according to the report.

The U.S. Forest Service said that smoke from the blaze will likely affect portions of the Inland Empire and the San Gorgonio Pass.

Meanwhile, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for some parts of Riverside County due to the fire.

``On Monday, winds near the fire will shift to come from the west and northwest and blow any smoke to the east and southeast through the San Gorgonio Pass and into the San Jacinto Mountains. Depending on fire behavior, Idyllwild, Banning, and the Western Coachella Valley may experience smoke impacts,'' AQMD officials said.

Residents who see ash or smell smoke were urged to limit their exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter, and avoiding vigorous physical activity.

U.S. Forest Service officials announced Monday that several national forests would close beginning at 5 p.m. due to the ongoing fire danger across the state, including the San Bernardino National Forest and Cleveland National Forest in the Inland Empire.

The order will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change.

The blaze originated in the El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa Friday at 10:23 a.m. and spread from the park to the north on Yucaipa Ridge that separates Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls from the City of Yucaipa.

— City News Service and Patch Editor Gideon Rubin contributed to this report