"A faulty electric transmission line started a raging fire in Paradise, California named the Campfire in, PG&E is finally facing charges for it." --Lola Christ, 6th grade
The Campfire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in Californian history, which started on November 8, 2018 in Butte County. The fire caused 85 deaths along with one missing person—though PG&E is only facing 84 manslaughter charges.
The fire started from a faulty electric transmission line owned by PG&E, which PG&E stated in its latest earnings report would be a “probable” outcome their equipment would be found to be the cause. It started when the hook holding this transmission line broke. The line was nearly one hundred years old and hadn’t been properly maintained despite being in a wooded and windy area.
The plea deal PG&E accepted meant they agreed to paying a maximum fine of 3.5 million dollars along with an additional 500,000 dollars to cover the cost of the district attorney’s office investigation. The company also settled to pay 13.5 billion dollars to resolve claims associated with many Northern Californian wildfires including the Campfire. The plea deal also states PG&E is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the town of Paradise and Butte County, and finally the company must cooperate with prosecutors and their investigation.
The company is facing 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter as the result of the deaths of 85 people, the only reason PG&E isn’t facing the total 85 charges in line with the death toll is because officials ruled it a suicide. Despite this many people aren’t happy with the outcome. Kirk Trostle, who lost his home to the devastating fire, said, “They decimated my entire town, to me this is just a drop in the bucket for what should be happening to PG&E.” Trostle lived in Paradise with many family members who scattered after the fire.
Later in his own statement, Bill Johnson and chief executive at PG&E said, “We cannot change the devastation or ever forget the loss of life that occurred. All of us at PG&E deeply regret this tragedy and the company’s part in it, we cannot replace all that the fire destroyed, but our hope is that this plea agreement, along with our rebuilding efforts, will help the community move forward from this tragic incident.”
But not everyone sees it that way. “I think from the customer end,” Mindy Spatt, works with the Utility Reform Network, told the LA Times, it kind of feels like PG&E got away with murder.”
However, this is not PG&E's first fire incident in California, in fact they filed for bankruptcy for the second time on January 29, 2019. PG&E has caused 1,500 fires within 6 years due to faulty wiring, and many people have accused the company of prioritizing profit over safety including Gov. Gavin Newsom.
PG&E released their statement on the matter on May 15, 2019, stating “CAL FIRE announced today that it has determined that PG&E electrical transmission lines near Pulga were a cause of the Camp Fire. PG&E accepts this determination. Our hearts go out to those who have lost so much, and we remain focused on supporting them through the recovery and rebuilding process. We also want to thank the brave first responders who worked tirelessly to save lives, contain the Camp Fire and protect citizens and communities.”
The fire started from a faulty electric transmission line owned by PG&E, which PG&E stated in its latest earnings report would be a “probable” outcome their equipment would be found to be the cause. It started when the hook holding this transmission line broke. The line was nearly one hundred years old and hadn’t been properly maintained despite being in a wooded and windy area.
The plea deal PG&E accepted meant they agreed to paying a maximum fine of 3.5 million dollars along with an additional 500,000 dollars to cover the cost of the district attorney’s office investigation. The company also settled to pay 13.5 billion dollars to resolve claims associated with many Northern Californian wildfires including the Campfire. The plea deal also states PG&E is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the town of Paradise and Butte County, and finally the company must cooperate with prosecutors and their investigation.
The company is facing 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter as the result of the deaths of 85 people, the only reason PG&E isn’t facing the total 85 charges in line with the death toll is because officials ruled it a suicide. Despite this many people aren’t happy with the outcome. Kirk Trostle, who lost his home to the devastating fire, said, “They decimated my entire town, to me this is just a drop in the bucket for what should be happening to PG&E.” Trostle lived in Paradise with many family members who scattered after the fire.
Later in his own statement, Bill Johnson and chief executive at PG&E said, “We cannot change the devastation or ever forget the loss of life that occurred. All of us at PG&E deeply regret this tragedy and the company’s part in it, we cannot replace all that the fire destroyed, but our hope is that this plea agreement, along with our rebuilding efforts, will help the community move forward from this tragic incident.”
But not everyone sees it that way. “I think from the customer end,” Mindy Spatt, works with the Utility Reform Network, told the LA Times, it kind of feels like PG&E got away with murder.”
However, this is not PG&E's first fire incident in California, in fact they filed for bankruptcy for the second time on January 29, 2019. PG&E has caused 1,500 fires within 6 years due to faulty wiring, and many people have accused the company of prioritizing profit over safety including Gov. Gavin Newsom.
PG&E released their statement on the matter on May 15, 2019, stating “CAL FIRE announced today that it has determined that PG&E electrical transmission lines near Pulga were a cause of the Camp Fire. PG&E accepts this determination. Our hearts go out to those who have lost so much, and we remain focused on supporting them through the recovery and rebuilding process. We also want to thank the brave first responders who worked tirelessly to save lives, contain the Camp Fire and protect citizens and communities.”
