U.S. Prosecutors Expand Wildfire Liability to Pyrotechnic Device Makers

Three companies have agreed to pay over $4 million to settle federal claims from California's 2020 El Dorado Fire, ignited by malfunctioning pyrotechnic devices at a gender reveal ceremony. The shift toward targeting manufacturers and distributors—not just end users—signals prosecutors are pursuing the full supply chain for catastrophic wildfires caused by consumer products. The settlement covers only a fraction of the estimated $35 million in suppression costs.