Previous Fires
Butte Fire
Responsible Party: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
The Butte fire ignited in September 2015 when a tree came into contact with a Pacific Gas & Electric (“PG&E”) powerline. The Butt Fire burned over 70,000 acres and destroyed over 900 homes and other structures.
Camp Fire
Total Settlement: $13.5 Billion
Responsible Party: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Pacific Gas & Electric was named by California investigators as the cause for the deadliest wildfire in state history. The company’s electrical transmission lines were determined to be the cause of the Camp Fire that killed 85 people and destroyed 19,000 homes and properties in November 2018, with most of the destruction occurring within the first four hours. The towns of Paradise and Concow were almost completely destroyed, and the towns of Magalia and Butte Creek Canyon also suffered significant destruction.
PG&E, the largest utility company in California, filed for bankruptcy knowing it would be faced with billions in liabilities after the wildfires. The company acknowledged that its equipment was likely the cause of the fire and was also quoted in a New York Times article as saying, “more must be done to adapt to and address the increasing threat of wildfires and extreme weather.”
On December 6, 2019, PG&E made a settlement offer of $13.5 billion for the wildfire victims that covered several devastating fires caused by the utility, including the Camp Fire. The Wildfire Recovery Attorneys represented thousands of individuals to recover fire losses from this bankruptcy settlement.
Dixie Fire
Total Settlement: $24 million
Responsible Party: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
The Dixie Fire started on July 13, 2021, when PG&E equipment malfunctioned and ignited the fire, burning approximately 963,309 acres in Plumas, Lassen, Butte, Shasta, and Tehama Counties. The WRA obtained a $24 million settlement on behalf of ten public entities affected by the fire. The public entities’ civil legal damages included public resource damages, staff and labor time, damages to pavement and roads, lost revenue, increased expenses, and other damages caused by the Dixie Fire. In addition, the WRA represents a number of individual homeowners in ongoing litigation against PG&E over damages sustained in the Dixie Fire.
Kincade Fire
Total Settlement: $31 Million
Responsible Party: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Diablo Winds fueled the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County as it burned through thousands of acres. Many structures were destroyed and evacuations were issued in an effort to help save lives. Tough weather conditions and rough terrain made it difficult for first responders to keep the fire contained.
Mountain View Fire
Erratic, high-speed winds fueled the Mountain View Fire in Mono County as it burned through over 20,000 acres. Many structures were destroyed, and hundreds have lost their homes. Evacuations were issued in an effort to help save lives. Tragically, not everyone was able to escape the blaze and one individual was killed. Officials called the Mountain View Fire the largest and most destructive fire in Mono County.
North Bay Fire
Responsible Party: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
In October 2017, numerous fires broke out throughout Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte, and Solano Counties during severe fire weather conditions. Twenty-two of those fires were caused by electrical infrastructure owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”). Our attorneys led the charge against PG&E to recover fire damages for thousands of individual homeowners, renters and businesses that suffered losses in the Tubbs, Nuns, Atlas, Cascade, LaPorte, Lobo, Redwood/Potter Valley and Sulphur Fires.
Slater Fire
The Slater Fire started on September 8, 2020 near Slater Butte. The fire grew rapidly and spread quickly because of high winds, hot temperatures, and low humidity. The Slater Fire burned through 157,270 acres before first responders could contain the fire. Tragically, two fatalities have been reported and a dozen injuries. Reports state that an estimated 440 structures were lost due to the blaze, including nearly 200 homes.
Thomas Fire & Mudslides
Total Settlement: $360 Million
Responsible Party: Southern California Edison (SCE)
In December of 2017, equipment owned and operated by Southern California Edison sparked a fire that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The fire quickly spread and burned approximately 281,893 acres including homes, businesses, and other structures. Even worse, the fire caused multiple fatalities and injuries.
Tragically, heavy rains fell in early January 2019 on the denuded land from the Thomas Fire causing deadly debris flow and mudslides in Montecito. Wildfire Recovery Attorneys successfully resolved the claims of more than 800 individuals and businesses whose properties and lives were destroyed by the fire and mudslides.
The settling public entities include Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County Flood Control District, Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles, Ventura County, Ventura County Watershed Protection, Ventura County Fire Protection District, City of Malibu, City of Agoura Hills, City of Calabasas, City of Hidden Hills, City of Thousand Oaks, City of Westlake Village, Conejo Recreation and Park District, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Santa Barbara County Fire Protection District, City of Santa Barbara, City of San Buenaventura, Montecito Water District, Montecito Fire Protection District, and Carpinteria Summerland Fire Protection District.
Zogg Fire
Total Settlement: $12.36 Million
Responsible Party: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Strong winds fueled the Zogg Fire in Shasta County as it burned through nearly 60,000 thousand acres. Hundreds of structures were destroyed and evacuations were issued in an effort to help save lives. Tragically, there have already been 4 individuals killed as a result of the destructive blaze. PG&E issued a statement acknowledging that some of its equipment was seized as evidence and the company said it is cooperating with the investigation.