Shasta County is charging PG&E with over 30 crimes, including manslaughter, for its role in the 2020 Zogg Fire, which killed four people and scorched more than 50,000 acres near Redding.
Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett announced the charges at a briefing on Friday morning. The 31 count complaint includes 11 felonies and 20 misdemeanors, with multiple enhancements.
"I have determined that we have sufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Pacific Gas and Electric company is criminally liable for their reckless ignition of the Zogg Fire and the deaths and destruction that it cost," Bridgett said.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigators previously determined that the blaze was sparked last September by a tree which fell on a PG&E powerline near the town of Igo.
Bridgett claimed that the utility should have removed the gray pine two years ago, as it both already had "significant damage" and was leaning towards the power line. The agency’s failure to do so resulted in needless death and destruction.
"PG&E as a utility, has both statutory and regulatory duties to mitigate fire risks by removing hazardous trees from around their electrical lines," she explained. "In this case they failed to perform their legal duty. Their failure was reckless and criminally negligent."
The blaze ripped through Shasta and Tehamas Counties over three weeks, killing four Igo residents, including an 8-year-old girl, and destroying 204 structures.
One firefighter was also injured.
"Those that lost loved ones need justice," Bridgett said. "They need someone to fight for them. They need to have those that are responsible for killing their loved ones to be held criminally responsible, especially since this fire was completely preventable."
PG&E services 5.5 million customers across Central and Northern California. The utility has not responded to the charges.
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