Fire-starting California utility PG&E criminally charged for 2019 Kincade Fire

Joseph Wilkinson

Troubled California utility Pacific Gas & Electric was charged Tuesday with 33 crimes because its equipment caused a 2019 fire that torched 77,000 acres in Northern California.

The Kincade Fire destroyed 374 structures, including 170 homes, in 2019 in Sonoma County, prime wine country about 50 miles north of San Francisco. Six firefighters were injured; no one was killed.

In this Oct. 27, 2019, photo, flames from the Kincade Fire consume Soda Rock Winery in Healdsburg, Calif.
In this Oct. 27, 2019, photo, flames from the Kincade Fire consume Soda Rock Winery in Healdsburg, Calif.


In this Oct. 27, 2019, photo, flames from the Kincade Fire consume Soda Rock Winery in Healdsburg, Calif. (Noah Berger/)

A Cal Fire investigation determined the fire started when an old PG&E power line snapped in high winds.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch charged the company with five felonies and 28 misdemeanors.

In this Feb 20, 2020, photo, a Pacific Gas & Electric truck drives past a PG&E; location in San Francisco.
In this Feb 20, 2020, photo, a Pacific Gas & Electric truck drives past a PG&E; location in San Francisco.


In this Feb 20, 2020, photo, a Pacific Gas & Electric truck drives past a PG&E location in San Francisco. (Jeff Chiu/)

PG&E admitted that its equipment started the blaze, but has not reviewed Cal Fire’s investigation, according to a press release. The company also said it doesn’t think a crime was committed.

Tuesday’s filing is the latest in a constant series of issues for PG&E. The company pleaded guilty last year to 84 counts of manslaughter for causing the 2018 Camp Fire, which nearly wiped the towns of Paradise and Concow off the map.

Firefighters survey the Soda Rock Winery as it burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019. Powerful winds were fanning wildfires in northern California in "potentially historic fire" conditions, authorities said October 27, as tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate and sweeping power cuts began in the U.S. state.
Flames shoot out a window as the Soda Rock Winery burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
Flames shoot out a window as the Soda Rock Winery burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
The doors to the Soda Rock Winery burst open as it burns in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
The doors to the Soda Rock Winery burst open as it burns in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
The Soda Rock Winery burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
The Soda Rock Winery burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
Fire explodes out the entrance of the Soda Rock Winery as it burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
Fire explodes out the entrance of the Soda Rock Winery as it burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
The Soda Rock Winery burns as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
The Soda Rock Winery burns as flames race through Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
Firefighters remove a flag from a property as flames race into the area during the Kincade fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
Firefighters remove a flag from a property as flames race into the area during the Kincade fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
National Guard members man a checkpoint as the Kincade fire rages on near Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
National Guard members man a checkpoint as the Kincade fire rages on near Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019.
Firefighters set a back fire along a hillside near PG&E; power lines during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
Firefighters set a back fire along a hillside near PG&E; power lines during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
A back fire set by fire fighters burns a hillside behind PG&E; power lines during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on October 26, 2019.
A back fire set by fire fighters burns a hillside behind PG&E; power lines during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on October 26, 2019.
A back fire set by firefighters burns along a hillside during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
A back fire set by firefighters burns along a hillside during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
A crew of inmate firefighters take a break during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
A crew of inmate firefighters take a break during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
Firefighters set a back fire along a hillside near during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
Firefighters set a back fire along a hillside near during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
Firefighters watch over a back fire along a hillside during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
Firefighters watch over a back fire along a hillside during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
A back fire set by fire fighters burns a hillside behind PG&E; power lines during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
A back fire set by fire fighters burns a hillside behind PG&E; power lines during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019.
Embers blow in the wind as the Kincaide Fire burns through the area on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif. Fueled by high winds, the Kincaide Fire has burned over 7,000 acres in a matter of hours and has prompted evacuations in the Geyserville area.
Embers blow in the wind as the Kincaide Fire burns through the area on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif. Fueled by high winds, the Kincaide Fire has burned over 7,000 acres in a matter of hours and has prompted evacuations in the Geyserville area.
A firefighter monitors the Kincaide Fire as it burns through the area on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif.
A firefighter monitors the Kincaide Fire as it burns through the area on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif.
A building is engulfed in flames at a vineyard during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019. The fast-moving wildfire roared through California wine country early Thursday as authorities warned of the imminent danger of more fires across much of the Golden State. The Kincade fire in Sonoma County kicked up Wednesday night, quickly growing from a blaze of a few hundred acres into an uncontained 4,000-acre inferno, California fire and law enforcement officials said.
A home burns at a vineyard during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
A home burns at a vineyard during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
A Cal Fire firefighter hops over a locked gate while working the Tick Fire on Oct. 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, Calif.
A Cal Fire firefighter hops over a locked gate while working the Tick Fire on Oct. 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, Calif.
Cows stand on a hill as the Kincade Fire approaches on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif.
Cows stand on a hill as the Kincade Fire approaches on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif.
Firefighters climb the canyons to build a fire break during the Tick Fire in Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, California on Oct. 25, 2019. Emergency services battled through the night to contain the fast-moving wildfire driven by high winds that was threatening to engulf thousands of buildings. Around 40,000 people were told to evacuate the area due to the Tick Fire.
Firefighters hose down a burning house during the Tick Fire in Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019.
Firefighters hose down a burning house during the Tick Fire in Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019.
Flames burn close to an entrance of a home during the Tick Fire in Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019. The flames are fed by dry winds that are predicted to strengthen across the region.
Flames burn close to an entrance of a home during the Tick Fire in Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019. The flames are fed by dry winds that are predicted to strengthen across the region.
A utility pole burns during the Tick Fire on Oct. 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, Calif.
A utility pole burns during the Tick Fire on Oct. 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, Calif.
Firefighters hose down a burning house during the Tick Fire in Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019.
Firefighters hose down a burning house during the Tick Fire in Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019.
Fire damage to the Highway 14 during the Tick Fire in Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, California on October 25, 2019. - California firefighters battled through the night to contain a fast-moving wildfire driven by high winds that was threatening to engulf thousands of buildings. Around 40,000 people were told to flee the Tick Fire, which was raging across 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) just north of Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP) (Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)

PG&E declared bankruptcy to handle all the civil settlements it owed for the blaze, which were eventually set at $13.5 billion.

The company emerged from bankruptcy in July 2020, but that did not stop its equipment from causing deadly fires. The October 2020 Zogg Fire, which killed four people, started when a tree crashed through a PG&E power line.

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