SANTA ROSA — State fire investigators announced Thursday that the deadly 2017 Tubbs Fire that blow-torched through Santa Rosa and killed 22 people was caused by a “private electrical system,” and not PG&E.
Lead Cal Fire investigator John Martinez wrote in his 80-page report that fire started adjacent to a home on Bennett Lane in Calistoga and was an “electrical-caused fire originating from an unknown event affecting privately owned conductor or equipment.” The fire was first reported at 9:41 p.m. Oct. 8 at the corner of Highway 128 and Tubbs Road, about a mile away from Bennett Lane. The exact address of the residence is redacted in the report.
Cal Fire investigators said they could not identify any violations of state law related to the fire. The determination could alleviate some of the potential liability against the beleaguered utility which is leaning toward bankruptcy after being linked to a number of deadly and destructive blazes over the past two fire seasons.
The Tubbs Fire sparked on the evening of Oct. 8, 2017 in Sonoma County, burning a total of 36,807 acres an destroying 5,636 structures.
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