The cause of the deadliest fire in California has become known
Californian officials said on May 15 that the power lines owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. (PG&E), caused the most devastating wildfire in the world, killing 85 people and destroying nearly an entire city.
It is about the Camp fire, which raged in California in November 2018, then the fire almost wiped out the city of Paradise, writes Fox News.
The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) concluded that the lines belonging to the utility in San Francisco caused the 8 forest fire to start in November in the Pulga district, Butte County. In total, as a result of the fire, 153 336 acres (62 053 ha) were burned down and more than 18 000 buildings were destroyed.
“Dry vegetation and hazardous conditions (high winds, low humidity and high temperatures) contributed to this fire and caused it to spread at extreme rates; Pulga quickly burned out and the fire spread east and west to Concow, Paradise, Magalia and the outskirts of Chico,” the department noted.
On the subject: Report: in the early hours of a fire in California, firefighters were distracted by stars who need to take care of their homes
The city of Paradise, with a population of 27, was almost completely destroyed, most of the inhabitants managed to evacuate, but their homes and cars were destroyed by fire. Investigators also found a second site of fire that included PG&E's power lines and vegetation, leading to another fire.
“This fire was ultimately contained to the original fire that had previously started near Pulga,” Cal Fire said.
Paradise Mayor Jody Jones said the investigation's findings that PG&E lines caused the fire did not surprise her.
"It's good to have a definitive answer," Jones said, adding that she hopes the opinion will help the city's legal battle against the utility.
On the subject: Guilty in California forest fires sentenced to 12 years
PG&E said it has not yet reviewed the Cal Fire report, but added that "the agency's finding that PG&E power lines near Pulga caused Camp Fire to start on the morning of November 8, 2018, is consistent with the company's previous statement." ...
“We were unable to conclude that the second fire was started by vegetation contacting PG&E electrical distribution lines, which Cal Fire also determined. PG&E is fully cooperating with all ongoing investigations related to the Camp Fire,” the company said in a statement.
The utility filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2019, faced with billions of dollars in litigation related to forest fires in 2017 and 2018. It is estimated that its overall responsibility for the fire in Paradise and 2017 forest fires of the year may exceed 30 billions of dollars.
On the subject: US secret agent tips: how to survive in death conditions
Paradise City officials filed a lawsuit against PG&E in January, claiming that the company had suspended a plan to cut off power to its power lines as a precaution against starting a fire despite the region's windy conditions and heat.
The company was also accused of starting Tubbs forest fire in Northern California in 2017, which killed 22 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
As ForumDaily wrote earlier:
- In February 2019, PG&E released a statement, which said that her equipment could have caused Camp fire.
- This fire was the most deadly in the history of California and the largest in the world. Here You can read the shocking facts about him.
- The city of Paradise destroyed by fire - bird's eye video.
- After the fires in California running water has become dangerous to use due to pollution with chemical benzene. This substance may cause cancer.
Read also on ForumDaily:
Hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes in the USA: how to stay alive
How cigarettes destroy the world: 11 facts you never even knew
What to do in case of a fire in a public place: a reminder that can save your life
Subscribe to ForumDaily on Google NewsDo you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.