Posted on Monday, November 19th, 2018 at 1:55 am
As of November 18, 2018, The Butte County Camp Fire is only 60 percent contained. The wildfire has burned roughly 149,500 acres and destroyed 12,794 structures, including homes and businesses. Seventy-seven (77) people are confirmed dead, and 1,276 people are missing. Unfortunately, these statistics change each day until the fire is fully contained. It could be weeks or months before we know the true devastation caused by the Camp Fire. Who is responsible for these damages and losses?
PG&E’s Alleged Responsibility
for the Camp Fire
Last year, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) was responsible for causing 17 wildfires, according to investigations by Cal Fire. At this time, Cal Fire has not released any information about the cause of the Camp Fire. The department continues to investigate the cause of the fire. However, numerous reports allege PG&E may be responsible for causing the Camp Fire currently raging in Butte County.
PG&E has submitted an incident report stating that it experienced a problem with its high voltage line near Pulga. Within a few minutes of the report, Cal Fire received reports of a fire in the same area. That fire is now the Camp Fire that has devastated Paradise, Concow, Magalia, and other surrounding areas. A second incident report has also been filed stating that PG&E also had a problem with a high voltage line near Concow the same morning.
Even though Cal Fire has confirmed they are conducting investigations in the areas involved in both reports, it has not released any further information about the investigation. PG&E confirmed that the company is cooperating with Cal Fire including the department’s collection of equipment related to the investigation.
In addition to the incident reports, the owner of Pulga reportedly received an email from PG&E the day before the fire. The email allegedly said that PG&E would be on her property to check lines because “they were having problems with sparks.” The owner is not aware of what the utility company may have done while on her property working on the lines or checking the equipment.
Monitoring the Developments
in the Camp Fire Investigation
Our Northern California wildfire attorneys are carefully monitoring the developments in the fire investigation. As more information is available, we will update our information. Lawsuits are already being filed against PG&E by some of the victims of the Camp Fire.
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury or incurred damages because of the fires in Butte County, we encourage you to contact our office for a free case review. Individuals and families who have been impacted by the Camp Fire may be entitled to compensation for their losses. However, you must file a claim and take steps to protect your legal rights.
Call Now for Your Free Appointment
with a Fire Camp Claims Attorney
Contact The Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Butte Camp Fire attorneys. We want to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your losses and damages so that you can continue to rebuild and recover after a devastating wildfire.
