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Volunteer rescuers search for human remains in the rubble of houses burned in the camp fire in Paradise, California. State officials said the fire was caused by PG & E power lines.
Terry Chea / AP
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Terry Chea / AP
Volunteer rescuers search for human remains in the rubble of houses burned in the camp fire in Paradise, California. State officials said the fire was caused by PG & E power lines.
Terry Chea / AP
The electric transmission lines owned and operated by utility giant Pacific Gas and Electric (PG & E) caused the campfire last fall, the most lethal and destructive fire of all. The history of California, announced Wednesday state fire investigators.
The Butte County fire in northern California burned more than 150,000 acres and killed 85 people.
"After a very thorough and thorough investigation, CAL FIRE determined that the camp fire had been caused by power transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electricity (PG & E) located in the area. Pulga region of Butte County, California, in a statement statement. Investigators said the fire had two sites of ignition, the second fire in another part of the county was devastated by the fire that began near Pulga.
Cal Fire's report was forwarded to Butte County Attorney Mike Ramsey.
The discovery was not unexpected. PG & E has even indicated that its transmission lines and the dry vegetation surrounding them could be the source of a profit report published in February.
"In addition to claims for property damage, business interruption, interest and attorney fees, the utility could be liable for the costs of fire suppression, evacuation fees, medical expenses , bodily injury, punitive damages and other damages under other theories of liability, including if it turns out that the utility has been negligent, "said the company.
The Cal Fire announcement took place on the same day as the new CEO of PG & E, Bill Johnson, testified before a state assembly committee.
"I made the assumption when I arrived here that PG & E equipment caused the fire," he said, quoted by the Associated Press. "It's a disappointment that this is happening, do not do it again."
In a statement released Wednesday evening, the company said that although he was not able to review Cal Fire's report, the verdict of guilty "is consistent with previous statements of the company ".
"We remain committed to working with state agencies and local communities to make our customers and California safer," the statement added.
PG & E filed for bankruptcy protection in January.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the public service in a court case concerning the company's bankruptcy case. "All should be aware of the history of PG & E, characterized by over two decades of mismanagement, misconduct and failures in efforts to improve a dismal safety culture", said Newsom.
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