PG&E Started Second-Largest California Wildfire, State Says

(Bloomberg) -- Californian investigators said a power line owned by PG&E Corp. started the second-largest wildfire in the state's history.

The Dixie fire last year was caused by a tree contacting electrical distribution lines west of Cresta Dam, The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, said in a statement on Tuesday. The July blaze torched nearly 1 million acres and destroyed over 1,300 structures, it said.

The tree was one of more than 8 million within strike distance of PG&E lines, the company said in a statement. PG&E has committed to burying 10,000 miles of lines and will continue to be tenacious in its efforts to stop fire ignitions from its equipment, it said.

The result of the probe is the latest blow for embattled PG&E, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2020 after agreeing to settle damage claims from previous wildfires. The company had said that it was likely liable for the Dixie Fire and in November estimated that it would take a $1.15 billion loss from the blaze.

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