California Seeks $90 Million From Utility Over Wildfire

Source: Associated Press

California Seeks $90 Million From Utility Over Wildfire

By JANIE HAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN FRANCISCO — Apr 28, 2016, 3:13 PM ET

California officials say they will seek more than $90 million in firefighting costs from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. after finding that a deadly 2015 fire was sparked by a tree that came into contact with a power line.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection released a report Thursday detailing the cause of the fire in Calaveras and Amador counties.

The amount is believed to be the largest recovery amount ever sought by Cal Fire, said spokeswoman Janet Upton.

Cal Fire said the state's largest utility or its contractors had removed two gray pine trees from a stand in January 2015, exposing a weaker, skinnier interior tree.

The 44-foot-tall gray pine tree grew taller, seeking the sun, but eventually slumped into a power line, according to the report.

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