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U.S. NEWS Thursday 16 May 2019

Officials: PG&E equipment sparked deadly California wildfire

By JANIE HAR
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —
Pacific Gas & Electric Corp.
power lines sparked a
Northern California blaze
that killed 85 people last
year, making it the dead-
liest U.S. wildfire in a cen-
tury, state fire officials said
Wednesday.
Cal Fire said transmission
lines owned and operated
by the San Francisco-based
utility started the Nov. 8 fire
that nearly destroyed the
town of Paradise in the Si-
erra Nevada foothills.
The fire wiped out nearly
15,000 homes. Many of
those killed were elderly or
disabled. The oldest was
99.
The investigation also iden- In this Nov. 9, 2018 file photo, Pacific Gas & Electric crews work to restore power lines in
tified a second nearby ig- Paradise, Calif.
nition site involving PG&E’s Associated Press
electrical distribution lines “We know from our work to be damaged. The suit also alleges that
that had come into con- that PG&E knew its towers Paradise Mayor Jody Jones PG&E had planned to de-
tact with vegetation. in the area were corroded said Wednesday she was energize power lines as a
The second fire was quickly and were at risk of failing,” not surprised to hear Pa- precaution against starting
consumed by the initial fire. Danko said. cific Gas & Electric power a fire but canceled those
The disclosure came on the A call seeking comment lines sparked the blaze plans despite windy condi-
same day the utility’s new from Butte County prose- that decimated her town tions.
chief executive was testi- cutors was not immediately and she hopes the findings PG&E’s bankruptcy reorga-
fying before a legislative returned. A PG&E represen- help the city’s legal case nization plan is due by the
committee in Sacramento. tative did not immediately against the utility. end of May, but it has re-
Bill Johnson told the state respond to an email seek- “It’s nice to have a definite quested an extension until
Assembly Utilities and En- ing comment. answer,” Jones said. November.
ergy Committee he had The utility, which filed for Paradise sued PG&E in California Gov. Gavin New-
expected the utility would bankruptcy protection January seeking damages som said in a Wednesday
be blamed for the fire. in January, said in Febru- for the loss of infrastructure, filing that PG&E shouldn’t
“I have made the assump- ary it was “probable” that land, property, trees, public get an extra six months to
tion when I got here that one of its transmission lines and natural resources, and reorganize. He said the util-
PG&E equipment caused sparked the blaze. lost taxpayer resources. ity’s request continues to
the fire,” he said, noting PG&E has estimated its to- The suit alleges the blaze show it lacks an urgent fo-
the utility had said that was tal liability from the Para- started when electrical cus on improving safety.
probable in recent filings. dise fire and 2017 wildfires infrastructure owned, op- Newsom and lawmakers
“It’s a disappointment that could top $30 billion. erated and maintained are working on proposals
this happened. Let’s not do The fire spread rapidly, by PG&E failed, causing related to utility liability for
it again.” burning into the commu- a spark that ignited the wildfires that could affect
Cal Fire did not release its nities of Concow and Ma- blaze. the bankruptcy.q
full investigative report, say- galia and the outskirts of
ing it had been forwarded Chico.
to the Butte County district Authorities said it was like
attorney’s office, which is no fire they had seen be-
considering criminal charg- fore.
es against the utility. Strong wind gusts blew hot
An attorney representing embers a mile or more, cre-
2,000 victims of the fire said ating multiple fires.
the handling of the findings “The tinder dry vegetation
indicates the utility may and red flag conditions
have broken the law. consisting of strong winds,
Lawyer Mike Danko said low humidity and warm
Cal Fire will normally re- temperatures promoted
lease its reports publicly if it this fire and caused ex-
finds no laws were broken. treme rates of spread,” Cal
However, he said, referring fire said in its release.
the report to prosecutors The utility previously ac-
suggests Cal Fire likely has knowledged that the Car-
evidence that the utility ibou-Palermo transmission
was negligent on safety is- line lost power right before
sues. the fire and was later found