U.S. District Judge William Alsup questioned a worker in a hearing Monday about the utility's potential role in starting the Dixie Fire.
Specifically, Alsup was interested in finding out what happened in the hours just before the fire started.
The worker questioned was identified only as the 'troubleman,' who checks out potential issues with powerlines.
The hearing went on for nearly two hours, with Alsup trying to determine if the utility acted quickly enough to turn off power along the line that may have sparked the Dixie Fire.
According to the troubleman, he spent more than four hours investigating the area when he was first notified about an issue with the line. He first surveyed the problem area through binoculars before driving to the site. Upon arrival, he saw flames and tried to stop the fire from spreading on his own, but was unsuccessful.
The Dixie Fire has destroyed nearly a million acres and is the second-largest wildfire in California history.
Alsup also oversees the PG&E's criminal probation related to the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion.
This hearing is just the beginning of his scrutiny of the Dixie Fire. He's requested the names from PG&E of the dispatchers who talked with the troubleman by Friday.
The company has since stated that it appreciates the opportunity to share with the court the additional measures it has put in place to prevent wildfires.
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