How Did the Dixie Fire Start, and Is PG&E Liable for Your Losses?

The Dixie Fire has set a new record for the largest single wildfire in California history. How big is the Dixie Fire? More than 1,200 structures were damaged, over 650 of which were family homes, as well as wildlife and forestry across more than 1 million acres. The energy company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been determined the likely cause of the fire, specifically one of their above-ground utility poles with faulty fuses.

Learn about PG&E’s responsibility in causing such devastation, and what the Grubbs Law Firm can do to help those affected rebuild their homes and lives. We are a large firm with substantial success in fire litigation.

Call us today at (888)-646-4853 for representation—there’s no need to be intimidated by PG&E with a big player like Grubbs Law on your side.

What Caused the Dixie Fire?
How Is PG&E Liable for Fire Damage?
What Could a Dixie Fire Settlement Mean For You?
How Can You Contact Grubbs Law for Representation?
Dixie Fire FAQs

Powerlines stand over a California vineyard, a potential danger to the business and residents.

What Caused the Dixie Fire?

PG&E itself reported to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that their equipment may have sparked the Dixie Fire of July 13, 2021. The fire was not contained in time, forcing evacuations in Butte and Plumas counties, and causing major destruction to businesses, residents, and the environment they called home.

This is not the first time PG&E equipment has been linked in connection with devastating fires. Wildfire Today points out that investigators have attributed thousands of fires over dozens of years to this one energy company. These incidents include the 2020 Zogg Fire that caused the deaths of four people, the 2019 Kincade Fire which demolished over 374 structures, and the 2018 Camp Fire, which burned the town of Paradise to ashes and killed 85 people.

Workers access power lines to repair them, necessary fixes that are harder to access in forested areas.

How Is PG&E Liable for Fire Damage?

The Dixie Fire is only the most recent in a long line of fires that have damaged California and the West Coast. As dry seasons last longer and produce higher temperatures year after year, the responsible action for a company like PG&E would be to increase fire safety precautions, but it has not.

While their own reports to the CPUC mention the “challenging terrain” these energy poles and fuses exist in, the poles remain standing, even in the dry months when California forests become a tinderbox. PG&E also notes there are “problems accessing the area” for firefighters and other ground resources, significant contributors to how small fires grow into such infernos.

One solution that PG&E has ignored is the option they have to bury power lines, and thus prevent forest fires on the ground. The reason it hasn’t been done? Cost.

Buried power lines are harder to access for repair, and would cost more in work and time than PG&E is willing to spend. Instead, when these fires inevitably spark, it’s the residents of California and the surrounding areas who must pay with their homes, businesses, and sometimes their lives.

Don’t let PG&E get away with such carelessness one more time—if you were affected by the Dixie Fire, contact Grubbs Law today to hold PG&E responsible for their costly mistakes.

Power lines light up San Fernando valley in California, but carry great danger.

What Could a Dixie Fire Settlement Mean For You?

Cases are won with facts, and there are a few facts that matter for the victims of the Dixie Fire. Number one, PG&E equipment is likely what started the Dixie Fire. Number two, the company has not done enough to prevent or mitigate wildfires caused by its equipment. And number three, that means their ill-gotten funds could be used to pay back the people injured by PG&E’s negligence.

The way you claim what you’re owed in Dixie Fire damages is to file a legal case against Pacific Gas & Electric. Depending on your losses, settlements or damages awards may include coverage for:

Personal injury to your body like smoke inhalation, burns, or injuries caused by mandatory evacuation
Loss of home or property damage to your residence
Destruction of your business or interruptions to your business operations if the fire touched the premises
Damage to ranch lands, farming equipment, or livestock
Lost income and other job-related benefits or opportunities
Emotional or psychological distress that caused physical symptoms
Wrongful death expenses such as funeral costs, and the loss of future income and support from the deceased

Every Dixie Fire update that comes into our office reveals more and more financial damage and emotional hardship for innocent people. Grubbs Law is here to help you find as much justice as possible after the injuries you’ve endured.

Don’t let PG&E get away with their careless and costly mistakes one more time—if you were affected by the Dixie Fire in California, contact the Grubbs Law Firm today to hold PG&E responsible

How Can You Contact Grubbs Law for Representation?

One undeniable fact on Pacific Gas & Electric’s side is that they are a large company. They have the funds to defend themselves and their shareholders against the claims that are brought against them in court. However, Grubbs Law is part of a massive firm, and we are not intimidated by the size of PG&E. Our previous case results show our commitment to justice, and to achieving the compensation you deserve, even if it means going to trial.

When going up against a long-standing company like PG&E, you need a law firm with experience. Grubbs Law Firm is established in the fire litigation sector, and holds a history of winning high-value verdicts for our clients. Join us to make sure all of your losses are accounted for in a courtroom setting.

Reach out to the Grubbs Law Firm by filling out our online contact form, or by calling us directly at (888)-646-4853. PG&E has left enough scorched earth in their wake—by asserting your rights today, you can help stop this company from causing future damage.

Dixie Fire FAQs

Is the Dixie Fire a federal disaster?

Yes, the Dixie Fire in California was declared a disaster in August of 2021, over a month after it first began to burn. The declaration allowed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use federal disaster relief funds to assist California in fighting the flames.

What towns were destroyed by the Dixie Fire?

The small Sierra Nevada towns of Canyondam and Greenville (a historic Gold Rush-era location), were decimated by the Dixie Fire.

According to the interagency incident information system InciWeb, the Dixie Fire also burned portions of the Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and damaged land in five counties—Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama.

Has the company PG&E caused other wildfires?

Yes. Numerous cases have been brought against PG&E, including a 1994 case in Nevada County, California, which led to PG&E’s criminal conviction for failing to trim trees near their power lines. Tree-trimming is a fire prevention measure, necessary for the areas around PG&E’s dangerous electrical equipment. It was the largest criminal conviction ever reached against California’s biggest utility.

Are the Dixie Fire claims against PG&E a class action lawsuit?

No. While class action suits are excellent ways for many people to join in the justice achieved by one party, they do not always work in accounting for the unique losses felt in fire litigation. A business owner’s losses are far different from those who lose their homes or their health, and so each case merits individual attention. Contact the Grubbs Law Firm for personal representation at (888)-646-4853.