Firefighter is killed battling blaze started by botched gender-reveal party



A firefighter in California has died in the El Dorado fire, the wildfire that started earlier this month from a pyrotechnic device used during a gender-reveal party.

What are the details?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement that the firefighter, who has not been named, was killed on Thursday.

"USDA Forest Service officials on the San Bernardino National Forest have confirmed the death of a firefighter on the El Dorado Fire," the statement said. "The incident took place on Thursday, September 17, 2020."

"Our deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and fellow firefighters during this time," it continued. "The cause is under investigation. More details will be made available as they are confirmed."

USDA Forest Service officials on the San Bernardino National Forest have confirmed the death of a firefighter on th… https://t.co/7OjSLHIc1X
— San Bernardino National Forest (@San Bernardino National Forest)1600427046.0

On Thursday night, SoCal Air Operations tweeted that a search and rescue operation had been initiated for a missing "hot shot" near Pinezanita, California. Hot shots, according to the San Bernardino County Sun, are "specially trained firefighters who battle blazes in remote regions by hiking in or being lowered from a helicopter" and "build fire breaks with tools they carry."

In a tweet about the tragedy, Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, tweeted: "I am deeply saddened that the firefighter who went missing while fighting the El Dorado Fire has died. Each day, our nation's courageous firefighters and first responders risk their lives to protect our communities. May this brave soul rest in peace."

What's the background?

The massive fire, which started after a pregnant couple set off a firework in El Dorado Ranch park, resulted in an initial containment effort consisting of more than 500 firefighters, 60 fire engines, and four helicopters.

Incredible sight as night falls!!The #ElDoradoFire burns into heavy timber near Jenks Lake Road W off of Highway 38… https://t.co/L1gLmqEkEU
— Will Lester (@Will Lester)1600394643.0

The couple reportedly used a cylindrical device to send either pink or blue smoke into the sky in order to reveal the sex of the baby, but sparked a fire in the process. They attempted to douse it with water from their water bottles, but it was to no avail.

From there, the fire quickly spread and, as of Friday morning, had burned 21,678 acres and was 66% contained.

The San Bernardino County Sun added that 12 injuries have been reported in relation to the fire so far, not including this most recent death. Four homes have been destroyed.

West Coast wildfires continue to rage: At least 36 people dead, nearly 5 million acres torched; smoke cloud reaches East Coast



Raging wildfires are still wrecking havoc along the West Coast, and now there are almost 90 wildfires in nearly a dozen states, the National Interagency Fire Center reported Tuesday.

So far the fires have burned an estimated 4.8 million acres, with a majority of the damage occurring in California, Oregon, Washington, and now Idaho.

According to the NIFC, firefighters have been able to contain six large fires — one in Montana, two in Oregon, and three in California.

The NIFC said that 11 states are currently reporting a total of 87 large fires:

● Arizona (1)
● California (23)
● Colorado (4)
● Idaho (13)
● Montana (9)
● Nevada (1)
● Oregon (12)
● South Dakota (1)
● Utah (6)
● Washington (15)
● Wyoming (2)

Dozens dead, many more missing

As tens of thousands of people continue to be displaced, the casualty count continues to rise.

According to CNN's latest reporting, at least 36 people have been killed in the West Coast wildfires. Of those killed, 25 were in the California fires, 10 in Oregon, and one in Washington.

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management's website said Tuesday that at least 22 people are missing in the state and at least 1,145 homes have been destroyed.

'Dangerous' smoke — and its spreading

The smoke in the region has led IQAir, a group that tracks global air quality, to report that the West Coast currently has the worst air quality in the world, CNN said.

Virtually all of Washington is covered by "unbelievably irritating, downright unhealthy and dangerous" smoke, Gov. Jay Inslee announced.

And in Oregon, USA Today reported, at least 10% of emergency room visits are for asthma-like symptoms.

Now, the growing smoke cloud has reached the Atlantic Ocean.

AccuWeather meteorologist Matt Benz told USA Today that wildfire smoke has finally traveled thousands of miles and reached the East Coast.

According to USA Today, Benz said "you can draw a line from California through St. Louis and on to Norfolk, Virginia — pretty much everyplace north of that line is looking at smoke-tainted skies."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted a map showing just how much smoke is currently covering the U.S.

Image source: NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations screenshot

29 dead including 2 children, dozens missing from West Coast wildfires; President Trump to visit fire-ravaged California



Wildfires have devastated states on the West Coast; at least 29 people have been killed, dozens of others missing, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes.

The National Interagency Fire Center reports that 97 large fires have burned 4.7 million acres across the western states. Over 29,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling the wildfires, along with 2,200 fire engines and 103 aircraft. There are evacuation orders in place due to 40 large fires in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D) noted that nearly 900,000 acres had burned by Friday. "In the last 10 years, we see an average of 500,000 acres burn in an entire year. We've seen that nearly double in the past three days," Brown said.

Approximately 500,000 in Oregon have evacuated or have been instructed to be prepared to evacuate, which is more than 10% of the state's population.

Oregon's emergency management director, Andrew Phelps, told MSNBC that the state is preparing for a "mass fatality incident" because of the wildfires. "There are going to be a number of fatalities, folks who just couldn't get warning in time and evacuate their homes and get to safety," Phelps said.

Wyatt Tofte, a 12-year-old boy from Lyons, Oregon, and his 71-year-old grandmother Peggy Mosso died while trying to escape the fire. The boy took shelter in the family car, but the flames surrounded him. A family spokeswoman said Wyatt was found by himself in a car, and the family's dog was found dead in his lap.

I've had incredibly heartbreaking conversations today. This is 12-year-old Wyatt Tofte & his grandmother, Peggy Mos… https://t.co/rVHTFVvP6E
— Kandra Kent (@Kandra Kent)1599713329.0


500,000 residents of northwest Oregon have either evacuated or been told to be ready to go, as those in southern Or… https://t.co/7pgMJhZGiE
— NPR (@NPR)1599854543.0


All @ORDeptForestry forestland is currently closed to public entry & use, including the Santiam, Tillamook, Clatsop… https://t.co/AyKNYEQLLE
— Forest Service NW (@Forest Service NW)1599939278.0


Residents evacuated from Molalla, Oregon, as the sky turned crimson from smoke and cinders as wildfires have contin… https://t.co/wVDnn8xO1k
— ABC News (@ABC News)1599880864.0


At least six people have died as wildfires tear through the US west coast.Dozens of fires have raged across Washi… https://t.co/bDPSntdA6O
— Channel 5 News (@Channel 5 News)1599841390.0


A record 3.2 million acres in California have been scorched since last month, and about 4,000 structures have been destroyed. The death toll in California from the wildfires reached 20 on Saturday.

A 16-year-old boy was among those where were killed by the wildfires in California. Josiah Williams died while trying to escape a fast-moving inferno in Berry Creek in Northern California.

"He was alone, terrified, and ran for his life," the boy's mother, Jessica Williams, told KOVR reporter Velena Jones. "My son was a good, smart, caring young boy that died alone, and it kills me thinking about what he was going through."

Cal Fire stated that five of the 20 largest California wildfires in history have occurred in 2020, including the biggest ever, the August Complex Fire. The largest California fire in history is located about a two-hour drive northwest of Sacramento. The August Complex Fire has burned 746,000 acres after merging with other large fires. The blaze is currently 25% contained.

Extreme weather conditions has caused an increase in acreage for the #CreekFire, which has now grown to be the 16th… https://t.co/wcbgYF4hc1
— CAL FIRE (@CAL FIRE)1599846608.0


Fires have been blazing across the western U.S. for the past few months. August and September 2020 saw record-setti… https://t.co/Q33Rds5P3m
— NASA Earth (@NASA Earth)1599849774.0

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that he would visit fire-ravaged California. The president will travel to McClellan Park in Sacramento County on Monday to be briefed on the catastrophic wildfires.

"Since mid-August, President Trump and Governor Newsom have spoken by phone and the White House and FEMA have remained in constant contact with State and local officials throughout the response to these natural disasters. The President continues to support those who are battling raging wildfires in a locally-executed, state-managed, and federally-supported emergency response," Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.

On Friday, President Trump tweeted about the wildfires obliterating the West Coast.

"THANK YOU to the 28,000+ Firefighters and other First Responders who are battling wildfires across California, Oregon, and Washington," he wrote. "I have approved 37 Stafford Act Declarations, including Fire Management Grants to support their brave work. We are with them all the way!"

THANK YOU to the 28,000+ Firefighters and other First Responders who are battling wildfires across California, Oreg… https://t.co/JglonEB62E
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1599870510.0

Authorities have arrested four people for suspected arson in the historic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington. Two Oregon men were arrested and accused of looting homes that were forced to evacuate.