According to the results of a meticulous investigation conducted by state agency Cal Fire, power lines owned by electric utility company Pacific Gas & Electric were responsible for the catastrophic Camp Fire that blazed across the state in late 2018.

Cal Fire released the statement on May 15, 2019 stating that PG&E was responsible for the fire that destroyed more than 18,000 structures and resulted in the deaths of 85 civilians. The report from May 15 comes after an earlier report in February stating that it was “probable” that the Camp Fire was caused by PG&E’s equipment.

PG&E had previously admitted that they had had problems with their equipment near the site of the start of the fire. The District Attorney additionally stated regarding the cause of the fire, “The investigation into how and why the PG&E transmission line equipment failed is ongoing in an effort to determine if PG&E or any of its personnel have any criminal liability.”

According to the report, the cause of the Camp Fire was determined to be contact between electrical distribution lines and natural vegetation; dry vegetation, warm temperatures, strong winds, and sparks from the electrical lines combined to start the dangerous blaze.

California law regulates utility companies and requires them to adhere to strict vegetation management practices in order to mitigate the risks of electrical equipment coming into contact with vegetation. Utility companies who do not comply with these regulations may be subject to negligence claims and liabilities. In addition to the Camp Fire Cal Fire has previously found PG&E to be at fault for 17 wine country fires from 2017.

About the California Camp Fire

The Camp Fire is the most destructive blaze in California history. It blazed for 17 days in November 2018 covered more than 150,000 acres and caused over $16 billion in damage. The fire also destroyed approximately 90 percent of the town of Paradise, displacing tens of thousands of residents and destroying homes and structures.

About Pacific Gas & Electric

Pacific Gas & Electric is a utilities company based in San Francisco providing natural gas and electricity to approximately 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in California. Following the hundreds of lawsuits that have been filed against the company regarding the damage caused by the Camp Fire and other fires, PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2019.

The Camp Fire lawsuits may take several years to resolve. In some cases, PG&E may even face criminal charges including murder or involuntary manslaughter for the dozens of civilian deaths caused by the fires.

If you are a victim of the Camp Fire or other California fires caused by Pacific Gas & Electric, you may qualify to join a class action lawsuit and pursue compensation for your property damage, injuries, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

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