PG&E In The Hot Seat On Wildfires

San Francisco, CA — California lawmakers grilled a PG&E official on power lines being the main cause of wildfires – pointing to the deadly Butte Fire in Calaveras and Amador counties.

At a San Francisco hearing on Wednesday with utility executives and state utility regulators, California lawmakers wanted answers as to whether PG&E’s power lines are sparking the states wildfires. As previously reported, Butte Fire victims have already filed two lawsuits against the utility regarding the cause of the fire, which destroyed and damaged nearly 900 structures and killed two residents. During the height of the blaze, PG&E officials acknowledged that the company was working with Cal Fire in the ongoing investigation of whether a live tree may have contacted one of its power lines near the ignition point.

PG&E Vice President Pat Hogan told legislators that the utility is moving forward on wildfire-prevention efforts even as the state develops new regulations. Cal Fire investigators have yet to identify an official cause of the blaze.