PG&E not liable for Tubbs Fire say Cal Fire investigators

Energy supplier Pacific Gas & Electric Co (PG&E), which has been accused of starting several of the wildfires that decimated parts of California last year, has been cleared of causing the Tubbs Fire by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), which is responsible for determining the origin and cause and of wildfires.

The October 2018 Tubbs Fire was, at the time, the most destructive in California history; it incinerated almost 5,700 structures, killed 22 people and caused insured losses of some $8 billion.

The investigation concluded that it was caused by a private electrical system adjacent to a residential structure. Cal Fire investigators did not identify any violations of state law, Public Resources Code, related to the cause of this fire.

However, PG&E is not yet off the hook. Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the Camp Wildfire, which destroyed almost 19,000 structures, resulting in 86 deaths and insured losses of as much as $10 billion.

US insurers Allstate, State Farm and USAA have launched lawsuits that could be worth billions against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) alleging it is liable for the Camp Fire, California’s most destructive and costly wildfire to date.

The energy company, which is already being sued by victims of the fires, has acknowledged they were issues at one of its transmission towers near where the fire started but the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

As a result of these lawsuits, the company recently said it intends to file for bankruptcy protection. If it is determined that PG&E equipment was the cause of the Camp Fire, under California law the company will assume full financial liability for all damages.

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