According to Cal Fire, Sonoma County’s, 51,624-acre Atlas Fire was the tenth most destructive wildfire in California history. Officials state that the Atlas Fire destroyed 873 structures, the majority of which were homes, north of the city of Napa near Napa Soda Springs. The fire also took the lives of at least 6 people. According to officials, all it took was a spark given the weather conditions on Sunday, October 8th, 2017 (dry, hot and wind gusting up to 60 mph). But what caused the spark?
Who is Responsible for The Atlas Fire?
Our San Francisco law firm believes PG&E, a private utility company providing power to the region is to blame for the spark that took lives, homes, businesses near Napa and other surrounding areas in Napa County. And while PG&E is still denying responsibility for the fire, CAL FIRE investigators recently determined the fire started in two locations. At one location, it was determined a large limb broke from a tree and came into contact with a PG&E power line. At the second location, investigators determined a tree fell into the line. PG&E’s violation of CA law as it relates to keeping power lines clear of vegetation has been determined to have been reason the fallen limbs came into contact with the power lines under the force of the 40-60mph winds.
DID YOU KNOW: Records indicate that since 1913, 99% of the wildland fires in the area were started by humans. This was not an act of nature.
This is not the first time PG&E’s negligence was deemed to be the cause of a deadly and devastating event in Northern California, as the San Bruno pipeline explosion in 2010 resulted in the deaths of 8 people and wiped out an entire Bay Area neighborhood. PG&E ultimately settled the 170 claims it faced from people that had lost loved ones and their homes for $565 million dollars after it was discovered that faulty welding caused the explosion and inadequate maintenance of the pipeline allowed the hazard to go undiscovered for years. Should PG&E’s negligence ultimately be legally to blame for the Atlas Fire and other Wine County Fires, as our attorneys suspect, PG&E will be responsible for compensating fire victims for their losses beyond any claims that have been covered by a victims’ homeowners insurance, including pain and suffering.
We Are Filing Lawsuits Against PG&E on Behalf Of Atlas Fire Victims
We are experienced San Francisco wildfire lawyers and are currently representing victims of the Atlas Fire in their claims against PG&E. Damages include wrongful death of loved ones, personal property loss, including destroyed homes, and severe emotional damages related to these losses. We have a history of successfully litigating suits against PG&E and have represented numerous Northern CA fire victims in the past, including recent Valley Fire victims in their claims for damages. Our attorneys are currently working with state and local authorities to establish the cause of these fires from a legal perspective and are preparing to file lawsuits against PG&E for causing the Atlas Fire and taking homes, businesses and lives.
According to recent regulatory filings, insurers for PG&E have already earmarked $800M for potential exposure to these lawsuits, so do not wait to protect your financial interests and secure your claim.
We are representing all of our clients on a contingency fee basis, which means we are only paid if we win your case against PG&E. We invite you to contact us for a free consultation at (415) 345-4282 to discuss your claim or fill out the form below. We would be pleased to have you visit us in our San Francisco office, or if you prefer, we are able to handle all the information and paperwork over the phone and email.