The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday the filing of 33 criminal charges against PG&E for its role in causing the destructive 2019 Kincade Fire.
The five felony and 28 misdemeanor charges include unlawfully causing a fire that resulted in great bodily injury, unlawfully causing a fire that resulted in the burning of inhabited structures and unlawfully causing a fire that resulted in the burning of forest land, plus various air pollution crimes.
The fire burned 78,000 acres and destroyed 374 structures across Wine Country, resulting in the largest evacuation in the history of Sonoma County. Six firefighters suffered serious injuries due to the fire. Smoke and ash from the fire emitted "dangerous air contaminants throughout the county," a news release said.
CAL FIRE later concluded the fire sparked due to a PG&E transmission line that broke during high winds.
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said she's "been working with CAL FIRE and independent experts to determine the cause of and responsibility for the Kincade Fire."
"I believe this criminal complaint reflects our findings," she added.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon responding to the charges, PG&E accepted CAL FIRE's finding that one of their transmission lines caused the fire, adding "we do not believe there was any crime here."
"I came to PG&E in January to ensure that we care for all those who were harmed, and that we make it safe again in California," PG&E CEO Patti Popp said. "We will work around the clock until that is true for all people we are privileged to serve."
The charges add more legal woes for PG&E, which just last June pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from its responsibility in the 2018 Camp Fire.
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