Initial reports indicate PG&E and So Cal Edison may be the cause of historic blazes

Chico, November 13, 2018 – Today, nationally recognized attorneys from Baron & Budd and Dixon Diab & Chambers LLP, collectively known as the Wildfire Recovery Attorneys, announced that the team is actively investigating the Camp Fire in Northern California, as well as the Woolsey Fire in Southern California, both of which began on Nov. 8, 2018. Initial reports have indicated that power lines owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) may have caused the Camp Fire. Additionally, Southern California Edison Company reported that its electrical infrastructure suffered a malfunction near the area where the Woolsey Fire is believed to have started.

The Camp Fire, which has already killed 42 people and injured three firefighters, is the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history. Additionally, hundreds of people remain listed as missing from communities impacted by the fire. The blaze has destroyed more than 6,500 homes – including nearly the entire town of Paradise. It has engulfed more than 125,000 acres and is now reported to be the most destructive individual fire in modern California history. As of Tuesday morning, the Camp Fire was approximately 30 percent contained.

The Woolsey Fire, which has killed two people, has burned more than 96,000 acres and destroyed 435 buildings in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Approximately 57,000 additional buildings are at risk due to their proximity to the fire. As of Tuesday morning, the Woolsey Fires was approximately 35 percent contained, according to reports from Cal Fire.

“It is heartbreaking and maddening to see once again communities throughout California reduced to piles of ash and burning embers as a result of a catastrophic fire,” said Baron & Budd attorney John Fiske. “It appears that these fires may also be linked to culpability by two of the largest power companies in the state – as in the case of the Thomas, Tubbs, Lobo, McCourtney, and Honey fires last year and the Butte wildfire in 2015. If corporate failures by these two power companies are determined to be the cause of yet another deadly fire, our team is ready to act quickly to help the thousands of residents and business owners who have lost everything to this terrifying blaze.”

In June 2018, PG&E announced to investors that it had taken a $2.5 billion charge to cover possible liability related to the fatal fires that ripped through Northern California in October 2017. In October 2018, So Cal Edison admitted in a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that its electrical equipment was involved in igniting the massive Thomas Fire that killed two people, destroyed more than 1,000 structures and burned through over 280,000 acres across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

The attorneys from Wildfire Recovery Attorneys currently represent more than 800 families and victims of the 2017 Northern California wildfires against PG&E. The group also represents over 300 of victims of the 2017 Southern California wildfires against Southern California Edison. The attorneys at Wildfire Recovery Attorneys have a history of fighting for victims of wildfires, including court appointments as Lead Counsel in the North Bay and Thomas Fire cases.

Baron & Budd represent over 25 public entities, such as counties and cities, in wildfire recovery actions against PG&E and Southern California Edison.

Wildfire Recover Attorneys are actively investigating the cause of the Camp Fire and Woolsey Fire.  For legal help, representation and questions related to the Camp Fire, please call (530) 208-0372. For legal help, representation and questions related to theWoolsey Fire, please call (310) 873-6465.  www.fireattorneys.com