[imagesource: Getty Images]

A couple set off a smoke bomb as part of their gender reveal party in Yucaipa, California, on September 5, 2020.

It had sparked the massive cross-country El Dorado wildfire that killed a firefighter and destroyed several homes as it scorched more than 22 000 acres.

We wrote about this deadly disaster after it happened, adding this line from The Daily Beast reporter Jenna Karvunidis – “For the love of God, stop burning things down to tell everyone about your kid’s penis.”

Although, that goes for all genitalia, to be fair.

The couple is probably wishing they could go back in time to take Karvunidis’ advice.

But instead, as per CNN, they are dealing with being charged with 30 crimes, including involuntary manslaughter.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said during a news conference that the couple, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, have been released until their next scheduled court date in September.

After the grand jury heard 34 witness interviews over four days, the charges were filed:

Ultimately 434 exhibits were presented to the grand jury, leading to the indictment that was unsealed Tuesday, which includes one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, three felony counts of recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, four felony counts of recklessly causing a fire to inhabited structures and 22 misdemeanour counts of recklessly causing fire to the property of another, Anderson said…

“You’re obviously dealing with lost lives, you’re dealing with injured lives, and you’re dealing with people’s residences that were burned and their land that was burned. That encompasses a lot of, not only emotion, but damage, both financially and psychologically.”

Battling the El Dorado Fire on the frontlines was the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot squad boss, Charles Morton, the firefighter that tragically lost his life:

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

Morton had worked as a firefighter for 18 years, which included his role as a Hotshot squad boss whose job it is to walk directly into a dangerous fire on steep terrain to strategically tackle the flames.

The investigation and prosecution of the gender reveal couple took its time so that justice could be fully served, mentioned Anderson.

[source:cnn]