By FireRescue1 Staff
TUCSON, Ariz. — The United States Forest Service released a video that shows the moment a massive 2017 wildfire was sparked by an exploding target used in a gender reveal.
The video, which was obtained by the Arizona Daily Star, shows an exploding target, used in Border Patrol Agent Dennis Dickey’s gender reveal party, sparking the Sawmill Fire.
Fire can be seen starting in the yellow grassland on state land with blue smoke coming off of the fringes. A male voice can be heard saying “Start packing up!” twice.
An investigation into the incident found that the target contained Tannerite, an explosive substance designed to detonate when shot by a high-velocity firearm.
Dickey admitted to starting the fire, which caused $8 million to extinguish and burned 47,000 acres. He agreed to pay $220,000 in restitution.