Pacific Gas and Electric says it's "probable" that its equipment caused the Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in modern California history.
Cal Fire has not yet finished its investigation into PG&E's culpability in last November's fire that killed 85 people and destroyed about 14,000 structures, displacing tens of thousands of people and destroying the town of Paradise. However, the state's largest utility, which filed for bankruptcy last month, said Thursday it expects the investigation will find that its damaged infrastructure sparked the fire.
The company faces billions of dollars in potential liabilities and nearly two dozen lawsuits from victims of the Camp Fire, including allegations of poor equipment maintenance. One lawsuit claims that the utility prioritized advertising spending over fire and public safety.
PG&E filed for bankruptcy in January because of potential legal liabilities from two years of devastating wildfires in the state, including the Camp Fire. The company, which has seen its stock prices plunge since the Nov. 8 wildfire in Butte County, says it plans to include a $10.5 billion pretax charge related to Camp Fire claims in its fourth-quarter earnings.
In its statement Thursday, the utility pointed to damage on a tower near where the Camp Fire broke out, which it had previously reported to state regulators, as the fire's likely origin.
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