Dixie Fire started by Pacific Gas & Electric Company lines: Cal Fire
REDDING, California – California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials have concluded that last summer’s Dixie Fire was started by power lines owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
The fire, starting on July 13, went on to become the second largest fire in state history, burning 963,309 acres. The fire started in Feather River Canyon southeast of Chico, California, near where the 2018 Camp Fire blazed.
The fire razed the historic town during the Gold-Rush period in Plumas County and threatened many other mountain communities. It destroyed 1,329 structures in five Northern State counties, including Shasta and Tehama.
Firefighters announced 100% containment of the massive blaze on October 25.
The fire was just the latest in a string of fires that Cal Fire has blamed on the facility. Cal Fire says PG&E device failed at startup Campfire in Butte County, which killed 85 people and destroyed most of the town of Paradise in Butte County.
PG&E has also been charged with manslaughter in the deaths of four Shasta County residents who died in 2020. Fire Zogg.
Cal Fire said Dixie Fire was started when a tree came into contact with a PG&E distribution line. The Zogg Fire also started when a tree came into contact with power lines along Zogg Mine Road in Western Shasta County.
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While Cal Fire announced its findings on the Dixie Fire on Tuesday, PG&E filed papers with the California Public Utilities Commission last summer claiming that its device may have sparked a fire. fire.
The Dixie Fire forced thousands of residents in Plumas, Butte, Lassen, Tehama and Shasta counties to evacuate. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than three months before finally declaring it under control in October.
That same month, federal and state officials estimate they spent about $630 million fighting the fires.
An investigative report into the Dixie fire was sent to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, Cal Fire said. The fire department referred all other questions regarding their findings to the district attorney’s office.
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Follow Damon Arthur on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS.