SAN FRANCISCO
PG&E under investigation for deadly Shasta County fire
Another fire season, another investigation into whether PG&E equipment may have sparked a deadly blaze.
This time, it’s the Zogg Fire in Shasta County, which has so far killed four people and destroyed more than 200 structures. Cal Fire, the state firefighting agency, took possession of PG&E equipment as part of its investigation into the cause of the blaze, the utility disclosed Friday. The announcement came just days before PG&E warned it may have to shut off power for up to three days this week to mitigate fire risk amid elevated temperatures and gusty winds.
It also comes a few months after the beleaguered utility pled guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 Camp Fire — the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history — and emerged from bankruptcy incurred by billions of dollars in wildfire-related liability costs.
PG&E is already on thin ice with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who in July signed a bill that would allow California to take over the utility if it doesn’t meet new requirements he helped negotiate.
- Newsom in July: “I’m not going to overpromise … on the PG&E front that everything’s going to change overnight. … But we’ve never had … the real oversight and accountability than (sic) we do today. … Let’s continue to hold that company accountable.”
Meanwhile, hot, dry, windy weather is expected to sweep across Northern and Southern California this week, bringing with it elevated fire danger. This is unwelcome news for a state that has already seen fires burn more than four million acres and just wrapped up its warmest April-to-September period in 126 years.
- Climatologist Bill Patzert: “Weather forecasters across the country are sounding like the grim reaper these days.”
Still, firefighters are approaching 100% containment on major blazes, including the Zogg Fire, the Glass Fire tearing through Wine Country and the August Complex Fire, which last week became the first in California history to top 1 million acres.
—Emily Hoeven, CALMatters
CALIF.
California Statewide Fire Summary
Over 12,600 firefighters continue to work towards containment on 14 major wildfires across the state CALFire officials reported Monday. They noted that there are six other large wildfires that will continue fire suppression strategies until the fires are fully contained. However, because these fires have seen no significant growth and are experiencing minimal fire behavior, they have been removed as fires of interest. Sunday, firefighters responded to 35 new wildfires across the State, all of which were quickly contained.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 8,400 wildfires that have burned well over four million acres in California. To date, the total number of fatalities statewide is 31 and more than 9,200 structures have been destroyed.
High pressure building over the state continues the warming and drying trend. Temperatures will rise above normal this week, and no rainfall is expected. A potential wind event is lining up for Northern California beginning Wednesday, extending into Friday in some areas.
Are you and your family prepared for an emergency? You can prepare not only for a wildfire, but any disaster that may strike. Make sure you and your family are ready for anything! To learn more, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
Newsom, lawmakers tussle over federal money
Seven months into the pandemic, lawmakers are still chafing under Newsom’s expanded authority and feeling left out of key decisions — as revealed by letters I obtained from the state Department of Finance regarding Newsom’s request to use $200 million in federal coronavirus funds for Project Homekey, an initiative to permanently house homeless Californians in motels. Lawmakers had already approved a specific plan for how the federal dollars should be spent — and weren’t aware that some would be left over and available to reallocate elsewhere, according to a letter state Sen. Holly Mitchell, chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, sent the Department of Finance. The committee on Wednesday grudgingly approved Newsom’s request — under the condition that he earmark at least another $200 million of the federal money for lawmakers’ priorities, which include food insecurity, assistance for low-income seniors and tenant relief. (The letters were first reported by California Globe, a conservative-leaning publication.)
- Mitchell: “Since March, the Legislature has repeatedly called for the Executive Branch to collaborate with the Legislature on COVID-19 response. But time and time again, the Legislature has been put in the position of simply giving a yes or no answer to the governor’s priorities.”
The independent Legislative Analyst’s Office had recommended lawmakers “reject without prejudice” Newsom’s request, pointing out that it’s too early to know if the state will have any leftover federal funds.
—Emily Hoeven, CALMatters
