Cal-Fire investigators have determined that the Camp Fire in Butte County, which started the morning of November 8th, 2018, and resulted in 85 civilian fatalities and several firefighter injuries, was caused by electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electricity in the Pulga area.
According to Cal-Fire the Camp Fire is the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history, burning a total of 153,336 acres and destroying 18,804 structures.
Investigators from the state fire-fighting agency were immediately dispatched to the Camp Fire and began working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
“After a very meticulous and thorough investigation,” the report reads, “Cal-Fire has determined that the Camp Fire started in the early morning hours near the community of Pulga in Butte County. The tinder dry vegetation and Red Flag conditions consisting of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures promoted this fire and caused extreme rates of spread, rapidly burning into Pulga to the east and west into Concow, Paradise, Magalia and the outskirts of east Chico.”
“The investigation identified a second ignition site near the intersection of Concow Road and Rim Road. The cause of the second fire was determined to be vegetation into electrical distribution lines owned and operated by PG&E. This fire was consumed by the original fire which started earlier near Pulga.”
During 2018 there were more than 7,571 wildfires that burned over 1.8 million acres within the state of California.
Californians must remain vigilant and be prepared for wildfire. For more information on how to be prepared, visit www.readyforwildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov. Cal-Fire also offers a free Ready for Wildfire app for IPhones and Android phones.
