SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. β A firefighter died battling a California wildfire that officials said was sparked by a device used to reveal a baby's gender.
The death happened Thursday in the San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement.
The fire erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby's gender, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said.
A firefighter puts out a hot spot along a highway northwest of Forrest Falls, Calif., while battling the El Dorado Fire, which was started by a device at a gender reveal party.
The name of the firefighter was being withheld until family members are notified. The cause of the death was under investigation.
No other information was released about the firefighter, the agency the firefighter worked for or the circumstances of the firefighter's death.
California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said earlier this month that the fire was ignited Sept. 5 when a couple, their young children and someone there to record video staged the baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains.
The device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to extinguish the flames and called 911.
Authorities have not released the identities of the couple, who could face criminal charges and be held liable for the cost of fighting the fire.
Photos: California fires blamed for at least 25 deaths
More than 17,000 firefighters are battling more than two dozen major wildfires in California. See photos of the blazes and their effect below.
Photos: California fires blamed for at least 26 deaths
California Wildfires
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The August Complex Fire burns near Lake Pillsbury in the Mendocino National Forest, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
California Wildfires
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An air tanker prepares to drop retardant while battling the August Complex Fire, currently the largest in California history, burning in the Mendocino National Forest, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
California Wildfires
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A truck sprays fire retardant on vegetation to help stop the spread of the North Complex Fire in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
CA California Wildfires Observatory
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This photo provided by High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN) and ALERTWildfire from a camera atop Mount Wilson shows dense smoke shrouding the famed Southern California observatory Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. Firefighters have prevented the Bobcat wildfire from damaging the historic Mount Wilson Observatory. Flames came within 500 feet of the observatory Tuesday, but a bulldozer line, burnout operations, water drops and brush clearance maintained there created protection, Angeles National Forest officials said in social media posts. (HPWREN/ALERTWildfire via AP)
California Wildfires
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An air tanker drops retardant while battling the August Complex Fire, near Lake Pillsbury in the Mendocino National Forest, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
California Wildfires
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The August Complex Fire burns near Lake Pillsbury in the Mendocino National Forest, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
California Wildfires Observatory
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Smoke is seen from the Bobcat Fire burning actively near Mount Wilson northeast of Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. The peak is the site of historic Mount Wilson Observatory, which played a pivotal role in early 20th century astronomy. The fire also made a run at the peak earlier in the week but firefighters were able to defend the observatory. The fire also was active on the north side of the mountain range where authorities ordered evacuation of the community of Juniper Hills. (AP Photo/John Antczak)
California Wildfires
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Firefighter Cody Carter battles the North Complex Fire in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
California Wildfires
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The North Complex Fire burns in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
California Wildfires
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A tree casts embers as the North Complex Fire burns in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
California Wildfires
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Cal Fire Battalion Chief Craig Newell carries hose while battling the North Complex Fire in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Western Wildfires-Exhausted Resources
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In this Aug. 18, 2020, photo provided by Justin Silvera, firefighters with Cal Fire, the California state firefighting agency, fight a blaze in Big Basin Redwoods State Park on a night in which they saved two stranded citizens in the park. Deadly wildfires in California and the Pacific Northwest have strained the human and equipment resources barely halfway into the wildfire season. (Justin Silvera/Cal Fire Local 2881 via AP)
Western Wildfires How Did We Get Here
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FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2020, file photo, an American flag on top the Space Needle was lowered to half-staff today by the Seattle Fire Department to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. Thick smoke from wildfires burning across Washington, Oregon and California makes seeing the Space Needle and downtown Seattle nearly impossible in this view from Queen Anne Hill. (Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times via AP, File)
Western Wildfires Smoke Stretches East
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This image and description from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), which is aboard the Aqua satellite, shows captured carbon monoxide plumes coming from California wildfires over a three-day period from Sept. 12 to 14, 2020. The image shows three-day averages of carbon monoxide concentrations around 3 miles (5 kilometers) up in the atmosphere. The red and orange areas indicate regions with extremely high carbon monoxide concentrations of greater than 350 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). The more normal, background concentrations of carbon monoxide show up as yellow and green, with amounts between 30 and 50 ppbv. (NASA/AIRS via AP)
