Sacramento >> After a comprehensive investigation, Cal Fire has determined that the Valley Fire was caused by a faulty wiring. Investigators uncovered evidence that a residential electrical connection arced and ignited surrounding dry grass.
The Valley Fire, which broke out Sept. 12, burned 76,067 acres, took the lives of four people, seriously injured four firefighters and destroyed 1,955 structures. At its peak, more than 4,000 firefighters battled the blaze which cost nearly $57 million to extinguish, according to Cal Fire. The fire became the third most destructive wildfire in California’s recorded history.
Cal Fire will be submitting the Valley Fire Investigation Report to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for review. A copy of the final report can be found here: http://calfire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_firereports.
