According to court documents filed in California on March 23, 2020, utilities provider Pacific Gas and Electric Company has agreed to plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter, as well as taking accountability for the company’s role in starting the Camp Fire in 2018.

PG&E to Plead Guilty to Camp Fire Deaths

In addition to taking responsibility for the 84 deaths caused by the Camp Fire, PG&E also pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully starting the fire. According to the terms of the case, the company will be sentenced to a maximum fine of $3,486,950 and will be required to reimburse $500,000 to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office for the cost of investigating the cause of the blaze. The company agreed to cooperate with prosecutor investigations and waived its right to appeal the case.

PG&E also agreed to several other terms, including establishing a trust to compensate victims of the Camp Fire and other potentially PG&E-related fires. This trust is expected to be worth approximately $13.5 billion. The utility company also agreed to pay hundreds of millions to Butte County, as well as to the town of Paradise, which was almost decimated by the blaze.

Prior to the Camp Fire, almost 27,000 people lived in the town. After the destruction of property from the Camp Fire, barely 2,000 residents remain. Additionally, many residents of Paradise and other California towns affected by wildfires have had their insurance companies drop their homeowners insurance due to the risks of future blazes.

Background on the Camp Fire

The Camp Fire began in November 2018, after a transmission line owned by PG&E snapped free from a tower and ignited nearby vegetation. The fire burned across over 150,000 acres, and destroyed more than 18,000 buildings and homes.

After the fire was contained, an investigation was opened into the possible causes of the blaze. In May 2019, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection announced that they had determined electrical transmission lines owned by PG&E to be the cause of the fire. According to Cal Fire, these faulty lines released sparks, which ignited nearby dry vegetation. Due to drought, strong winds, and warm weather, these sparks were able to grow into a massive wildfire.

Investigations into PG&E’s electrical equipment revealed that at least 49 steel towers needed to be replaced, and another 57 required maintenance and updating. Many of these towers were decades old, with an average age of 68. Due to years of deferred maintenance, more than 1,000 high priority safety risks were discovered on PG&E transmission lines and poles after the fire.

At the time of the fire, the Camp Fire was deemed to be the most destructive wildfire in California history. In addition to causing damage to homes and buildings, the fire also displaced tens of thousands of residents. Natural vegetation and landscaping were destroyed by the wildfire, as well as fencing, outbuildings, and other property. The blaze also resulted in soil erosion and other damage to the natural landscape.

While some residents of California may have had property insurance that covered damage caused by the blaze, many residents may have been underinsured, or accepted lowball settlement offers from their insurance company. They may be due additional compensation.

Hiring a qualified attorney to review your case may help to determine whether you qualify to pursue additional funds. Even if you have already accepted a settlement from your insurance company, you may be entitled to more.

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