A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to douse the flames and called 911, officials said.
Strong winds stoked the fire as it ran through wilderness on national forest land, about 120 kilometres east of Los Angeles. Extremely dry conditions and heatwaves tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight. Climate change has made parts of the US much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.
A couple accused of igniting a massive wildfire with a gender-reveal smoke bomb now faces manslaughter charges
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Couple charged after gender reveal party sparked deadly fire
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Couple whose gender reveal sparked California wildfire charged
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