Residents in an area of California recently affected by wildfires say in a new Camp Fire lawsuit that the electric company is responsible for improper maintenance, sparking a fire.

A total of 35 different families came together to file their Camp Fire lawsuit. These Paradise families allege that Pacific Gas & Electric is responsible for igniting the fire that caused significant property damage. The Camp Fire lawsuit was filed after numerous California wildfire records were broken by the Camp Fire blaze that consumed practically the entire town.

When wildfires are sparked in a dry area like California, the flames can spread quickly before firefighters and related personnel even have a chance to stop the problem. In a speedy process like that, property can be permanently destroyed, leaving a homeowner or property owner with the aftermath of cleaning it up and trying to move on.

While some wildfires have natural causes, others are caused by negligence. The plaintiffs in the Camp Fire lawsuit argue that inappropriate maintenance on the power equipment maintained by PG&E ultimately caused the wildfire to ignite.

State fire inspectors have yet to reveal a final cause of what started the fire, but the Camp Fire lawsuit explains that a customer received a communication from PG&E the day before the fire ignited about issues with sparks, requesting access to that consumer’s property.

The Camp Fire lawsuit explains that significant injuries and damages were caused by the blaze that should have been caught or contained by PG&E sooner. More than 14,500 structures were destroyed as a result of that fire, making it the most destructive and deadliest fire in California history.

The Camp Fire lawsuit also alleges that it may go on to become the most expensive fire in the state, with anticipated costs standing at more than $19 billion due to insurers, homeowners and the state.

Utilities and Fires

This is not the first time that PG&E has been targeted in a lawsuit; the 2017 Wine Country fires were also blamed on PG&E. Other California utilities have also come under fire, like Southern California Edison for the Woolsey Fire.

Newer allegations link the Camp Fire to PG&E concerns. More than 88 individuals were killed in the Camp Fire blaze and over 150,000 acres were burned, according to the lawsuit.

Those families who lost significant property value or suffered other damages have come together to file the Camp Fire lawsuit in an effort to hold the energy company responsible for what they believe is negligent equipment maintenance.

Although further details have yet to be revealed on what may have sparked the Camp Fire blaze, many of the families believe that PG&E had reason to believe that inadequate maintenance had occurred around the area in which the fire sparked and allege that the company did not respond quickly enough to prevent or contain the fire and keep it from spreading any further.

Those families who have initiated the Camp Fire lawsuit are asking for an unspecified amount of damages to be paid by PG&E as part of their claim settlement.