Authorities in California said a party to reveal the gender of an unborn child accidentally sparked a wildfire that is now burning about 7,000 acres in the state.
The agency said that the fire, which is burning near the city of Oak Glen, started at 10:23 a.m. on Sept. 4 in the El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa.
"The fire spread from the park to the north on to Yucaipa Ridge that separates Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls from the City of Yucaipa," Cal Fire wrote.
No charges have been announced following the incident.
Evacuations have been issued for Mountain Home Village, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Yucaipa Ridge. An evacuation warning is in effect in the Yucaipa bench area. The Yucaipa Community Center is being used as an evacuation center, said Cal Fire.
It comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in five counties on Sunday.
“Governor Newsom has declared a statewide emergency due to the widespread fires and extreme weather conditions, and secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state’s emergency response to the Northern California wildfires,” his office said in the statement.
The counties impacted under the state of emergency are Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa due to the Creek Fire. San Bernardino County is impacted due to the El Dorado Fire, and San Diego County is impacted because of the Valley Fire.
“California has also secured Fire Management Assistance Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support the state’s response to fires burning in Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Napa, Nevada, Lake, Solano, Yolo, and Monterey counties,” his statement continued. Those fires are located in Central or Northern California.
Newsom also obtained a major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump and assistance grants to support the battle against Northern California fires.