Cal Fire released its findings on Tuesday.
At the same time, it reported that it found no violations of the Public Resources Code.
Cal Fire forwarded its investigative report to the Yuba County District Attorney’s Office, which announced it would not be filing criminal charges in relation to the fire.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. responded on Tuesday by issuing a statement emphasizing that the safety of customers, their families and the communities the company serves “is our most important job.”
The statement continued, “Without question, the loss of life, homes and businesses in these extraordinary wildfires is heartbreaking and we remain focused on helping communities recover and rebuild. As independent experts have confirmed, extreme weather, years of drought, and millions of dead trees are feeding an unprecedented risk of wildfires. In light of this, we recognize we all need to do even more to help reduce the risk of wildfires, and are committed to working together with our state and community partners to develop comprehensive safety solutions for the future.”
The Cascade fire in Yuba County started on the evening of Oct. 8 and burned a total of 9,989 acres, destroying 264 structures, and resulting in four civilian fatalities and one firefighter injury.
A high wind event in conjunction with the power line sag on two conductors caused the lines to come into contact, which created an electrical arc, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the electrical arc deposited hot burning or molten material onto the ground in a receptive fuel bed causing the fire. The common term for this situation is called “line slap” and the power line in question was owned by PG&E.
On Tuesday, Yuba County District Attorney Patrick McGrath released his investigative findings, concluding “that a criminal jury would be unable to unanimously agree beyond a reasonable doubt that the evidence is sufficient to establish criminal negligence, as opposed to ordinary civil negligence, on the part of Pacific Gas and Electric as it relates to the probable cause of the Cascade Fire.”
The report continued, “Given these conclusions, prosecutors are ethically obligated not to proceed with a criminal prosecution and no criminal charges have been filed. This office reserves the right to review any additional information or evidence that may be submitted to it prior to the expiration of the criminal statute of limitations.”
In total, the October 2017 Fire Siege involved more than 170 fires and burned at least 245,000 acres in Northern California. Approximately 11,000 firefighters from 17 states and Australia helped battle the blazes.
Cal Fire investigators were dispatched to the fires last year and immediately began working to determine their origin and cause.
The agency’s investigators continue to investigate the Tubbs fire and will release the report once it is completed, Cal Fire reported.
100918 Yuba County District Attorney - Cascade fire investigation by LakeCoNews on Scribd