Refugio Jimenez Jr, the man responsible for starting a devastating wildfire during a gender reveal photoshoot, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The El Dorado Fire, which occurred on September 5, 2020, was ignited when Jimenez and his wife, Angelina, staged a photo shoot at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, California. A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off, igniting dry grass in the scorching heat. The couple attempted to extinguish the flames with bottled water and called 911, but strong winds fueled the fire, causing it to spread rapidly through the wilderness.

Tragically, the wildfire claimed the life of 39-year-old Charles Morton, the leader of the elite Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad. Morton had been a firefighter for 18 years, dedicating his life to protecting others. The fire overtook him and his team as they were cutting fire breaks in a remote area.

In a court hearing, the San Bernardino County district attorney announced that Jimenez Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. As a result, he will be sentenced to one year in jail and two years of felony probation, with an additional 200 hours of community service. Angelina Jimenez admitted to three misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing fire to the property of another and will serve 400 hours of community service, along with one year of summary probation.

The couple has also been ordered to pay $1.78 million in restitution for the damages caused by the wildfire. The fire burned an area equivalent to twice the size of Oxford, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents and injuring 13 people. It destroyed five homes and 15 other buildings before being contained on November 16, 2020.

In addition to facing legal consequences, the Jimenezes are also being sued by the US Forest Service, along with the manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of the pyrotechnic device used in the gender reveal. The lawsuit alleges that the "smoke bombs" were illegal in California and known to be defective.

While the Jimenezes' lawyer, Mike Scafiddi, expressed his clients' remorse and prayers for Morton's family, he also emphasized that the couple did not host a gender-reveal party, contrary to previous reports. Scafiddi stated that it was a simple photo shoot with a few relatives and their children, not a large gathering with food and celebration.

The El Dorado Fire was one of many wildfires that ravaged California during the record-breaking 2020 wildfire season. The state experienced extreme dry conditions and heat waves, exacerbated by climate change, which made the fires more difficult to control. California lost nearly 10,500 buildings and 33 lives to wildfires that year, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on the frequency and severity of wildfires.