Camp Fire Caused By PG&E Power Lines At 2 Sites, Cal Fire Says

CHICO, CA — Cal Fire announced Wednesday that it has determined the disastrous Camp Fire in Butte County in November was caused by PG&E electrical transmission lines in the area of Pulga in the Sierra foothills in eastern Butte County.

The deadliest and most destructive fire in California history quickly spread southwest through Butte County in dry and windy conditions, killing 86 people and burning 153,336 acres. Nearly the entire city of Paradise was destroyed and smoke from the blaze covered the Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California.

PG&E said in February that it expected that an equipment failure on a high-voltage transmission power near Pulga would be found to be the probable cause.

Cal Fire said its investigation determined there was a second ignition site near the intersection of Concow and Rim roads. The fire at that site was consumed by the original fire, the agency said.

“Today, CalFire confirmed what we have long suspected: PG&E caused the most destructive and deadliest fire in our state’s history,” said state Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. “We now look to the Butte County D.A. to take up this case.”

See also

• San Francisco May Buy PG&E's Assets

—Bay City News; Sue Wood, Patch contributed to this report.