How the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise, California
Driven by high winds and fueled by dry conditions, what started as a wildland fire became an 'area ignition' event that grew into a 'giant structure fire' in Paradise, says Tim Aboudara of the International Association of Firefighters.
California utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has agreed to pay $1 billion to 14 local governments for igniting several devastating wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes and nearly wiped out one town.
The money will pay for losses related to a 2015 blaze in Butte County, a series of 2017 fires and last year's Camp Fire in Northern California.
“This money will help local government and taxpayers rebuild their communities after several years of devastating wildfires,” said Scott Summy, a shareholder with Texas-based Baron & Budd, which announced the settlement in a news release. “The cities and counties will be in a better position to help their citizens rebuild and move forward.”
DEADLY FIRE LEVELED PARADISE, CALIFORNIA, IN LESS THAN A DAY
This Dec. 3, 2018, file photo, shows homes leveled by the Camp Fire line Valley Ridge Drive in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
More than have of the settlement is related to the Camp Fire, the most destructive in state history. The town of Paradise will be paid $270 million, officials said Tuesday.
Paradise officials accepted a mediator's offer to resolve its claims over the fast-moving fire, which killed 85 people, burned more than 153,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures.
The blaze caused over $16 billion in damage. A judge must approve the settlement.
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“The Town of Paradise will rebuild, and this is an important step towards our recovery,” said Paradise Mayor Jody Jones. “On behalf of the town, we hope to receive the money as soon as possible so we can put it towards rebuilding our infrastructure and providing those necessary services for community resiliency.”
Paradise, with a population of 27,000, was nearly obliterated in the blaze. Residents evacuated and came back to ash piles where their homes once stood.
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"We remain focused on supporting our customers and communities impacted by wildfires and helping them recover and rebuild," PG&E said in a statement to Fox News. "This is an important first step toward an orderly, fair and expeditious resolution of wildfire claims and a demonstration of our willingness to work collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve mutually acceptable resolutions."
In this Sept. 12, 2015 file photo, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmates stand guard as flames from the Butte Fire approach a containment line near San Andreas, Calif. Attorneys representing 14 local governments said Tuesday, June 18, 2019 that they had reached a $1 billion settlement with California utility Pacific Gas & Electric for a series of fires dating to 2015. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
In May, state fire investigators determined PG&E power lines sparked the Camp Fire, which started on Nov. 8 near Pulga, about seven miles from Paradise.
Company executives visited Paradise earlier this month in response to a court-order. The utility has faced billions in lawsuits, mostly from individual fire victims and insurance companies.
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To avoid future devastating wildfires, regulators last month gave utilities permission to cut off electricity to thousands of customers. PG&E said power would only be cut off in "truly extreme fire danger weather."
The company planned to de-energize power lines in at-risk rural areas but will include high-voltage transmission lines like the ones that caused the Camp Fire.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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