California Finds PG&E Responsible for Dixie Fire

The Dixie Fire, which ignited on July 13, grew to consume nearly a million acres across five counties and blackened swaths of scenic forest including much of Lassen Volcanic National Park. It destroyed more than 1,300 structures, including the small town of Greenville, and left one person dead.

Butte County officials weren’t immediately available for comment.

PG&E had already acknowledged its power lines likely sparked the fire, and in November it disclosed in securities filings that it may face at least $1.15 billion in related liability costs. It said late Tuesday: “Regardless of today’s finding, we will continue to be tenacious in our efforts to stop fire ignitions from our equipment and to ensure that everyone and everything is always safe.”

Shortly after the Dixie Fire started, PG&E Chief Executive Patti Poppe announced a plan to bury 10,000 miles of distribution lines, reversing an earlier stance by the company that doing so would be prohibitively expensive. PG&E has since solicited information from engineering and construction firms and formed an undergrounding council to help formulate the plan.

The Dixie Fire ignited in the vicinity of the Camp Fire, which killed 84 people and destroyed the town of Paradise in November 2018. It was the deadliest fire in California history.

PG&E’s equipment has ignited more than 20 California wildfires within the past several years that have collectively killed more than 100 people and burned thousands of homes. Most of the fires were sparked when trees or branches touched the company’s wires. The company sought bankruptcy protection in 2019 and emerged in 2020 after settling fire-related claims for $25.5 billion.

Write to Katherine Blunt at [email protected] and Jim Carlton at [email protected]