Memorial held for firefighter killed in California blaze

A memorial service was held Friday for a California firefighter killed while battling a blaze in the mountains east of Los Angeles.

Charles Morton, 39, a San Diego native, was a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service and a squad boss for the Big Bear Interagency Hotshots in San Bernardino National Forest, officials said. He was engaged and had a daughter.

A limited-capacity service was held at The Rock Church in San Bernardino.

Among those who spoke was Morton's fiance Monica Tapia.

Morton died last week while fighting the El Dorado fire some 80 miles (129 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. It was sparked when a couple used a device that was supposed to emit blue or pink smoke to reveal their baby's gender.

Fire officials said the couple fired off the device in a field and it ignited grasses and quickly spread with sweltering temperatures, low humidity and a stiff breeze. The couple tried to put out the flames but couldn't and called 911.