Pacific Gas and Electric Co. says that just before a currently active California wildfire known as the Kincade Fire began, PG&E transmission equipment failed.

The Kincade Fire, located in Northern California wine country, has consumed about 78,000 acres so far. The fire has raged for nearly two weeks, but is nearing complete containment, according to Cal Fire officials.

The fire temporarily displaced more than 180,000 residents in the area from their homes. Unfortunately, hundreds of buildings have been destroyed, including nearly 200 residential buildings.

While the cause of this still active California wildfire has yet to be determined, PG&E told state regulators that part of a PG&E transmission tower broke just before the Kincade fire started around 9:30 local time on Oct. 23.

The utility company has attempted to avoid fires in the area by using power blackouts throughout the state. In fact, in Sonoma County and the nearby area, PG&E had recently turned off the power of about 28,000 customers because of strong winds. But a 230,000-volt transmission line near Geyserville was left on, and failed just before the fire began on the evening of October 23.

Since then, California firefighters have reported finding a “broken jumper” wire on the transmission tower, according to a report filed with the California Public Utilities Commission.

PG&E and California Fires

PG&E has previously been linked with a number of California wildfires, and as a result, filed for bankruptcy this past January. The company now faces billions of dollars in potential liabilities, both for major property damage and for the deaths of about 130 people who were killed in these fires in 2017 and 2018.

The deadline for victims to file claims against PG&E over Northern California wildfires was on Oct. 21. Unfortunately, only 40 to 50 percent of those eligible managed to file claims by that date.

U.S. District Judge James Donato referred to the low claim rate as “unacceptable” and “heartbreaking,” and said that the utility giant has not done enough to reach out to all of the potential claimants. Indeed, many survivors of the Northern California fires may not have known that they were able to file a claim or that the deadline was approaching so quickly.

Survivors of the fires may still be facing the effects of what has happened, including trauma, financial struggle, injuries, property damage, or even the death of a loved one.

PG&E noted that it had sent out letters to people in the area, but many people have been displaced from their homes by the damage caused by these fires.

If you were affected by one of the recent California wildfires, the deadline for making Pacific Gas and Electric California fire claims has unfortunately passed, but there may still be legal options going forward. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.