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The latest lawsuit alleging that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. caused the Camp Fire was filed Thursday in Butte County by 35 families, most from the town of Paradise, who lost their homes in the monster blaze.
Filed in the Superior Court of California in Butte County, the suit alleges negligence and demands unspecified compensation and damages.
The lawsuit says PG&E “repeatedly failed to safely and properly design, construct, maintain and inspect their high-voltage power lines and power poles.”
The suit says that lack of care has resulted in “several deadly and catastrophic power line fires in recent years, including the Camp Fire. At the time of the fire, and for years before, PG&E had actual knowledge of the local conditions requiring a level of care and good practice, which they failed to meet."
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has said it is investigating the cause of the Camp Fire, the deadliest blaze in the state’s recent history. The wildfire burned 153,336 acres in Paradise and neighboring communities before rains helped snuff it out.
The death toll stands at 88, and nearly 14,000 homes were destroyed.
Camp Fire: Faces of the Fire
Asked for comment about the latest lawsuit, PG&E spokesperson Jennifer Robinson said via email: "We are aware of lawsuits regarding the Camp Fire. Right now, our primary focus is on supporting first responders and positioning our employees to assess damage, restore service and rebuild infrastructure, and helping our communities."
Most of the residents named in the lawsuit live in Paradise. Three people live in Magalia — Vincent Ramirez, Roseanna Ramirez and Tammy Spirlock. One person who filed the suit, Scott Petersen, lives in Oroville.
At least two other lawsuits have been filed against PG&E.
The plaintiffs in a Nov. 13 suit lodged in San Francisco Superior Court are other people who lost homes in the Camp Fire.
Retired Chico police chief Kirk Trostle and his wife Patricia Garrison also are suing the utility giant.
Filed Nov. 16 in Butte County Superior Court, that lawsuit alleges PG&E failed to safely and properly maintain its power lines, which resulted in the loss of the couple's Paradise home.