Wildfires

The decision by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali clears the way for PG&E to pay $25.5 billion for losses from devastating fires in 2017 and 2018.

The maximum penalty assessed by Butte County Superior Court Judge Micahel Deems was a mere formality, given that PG&E reached a plea agreement three months ago to resolve manslaughter and other charges.

The first fire, which has been named the Camp Parks Fire, is burning off Mines Rd. in Livermore. The second fire, which began shortly after the first, is breaking out on Sandia National Labs property near 7900 Tesla Rd.

The speakers tearfully told of holiday and birthday celebrations that will never be celebrated after their loved ones perished in the November 2018 fire that nearly wiped out Paradise, California.

PG&E CEO Bill Johnson entered guilty pleas Tuesday on behalf of the company for 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the fire, which was blamed on the company’s crumbling electrical grid.

The Quail Fire that started in Solano County on Saturday afternoon has been fully contained as of Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire.

Three structures have been damaged and 100 were threatened, Cal Fire said. There are more than 600 personnel working the fire and no injuries have been reported. Evacuations of homes and other buildings in the area were mandatory, but were lifted Sunday afternoon.

Evacuations were ordered Saturday following a rapid rate of spread. Firefighters had estimated 100 structures were threatened by the out of control wildfire.

An arson investigation is underway into the Colleen Fire, which scorched a hilly area covered with dry brush and forced the evacuation of area residents, according to the San Jose Fire Department.

Cal Fire first reported the incident at 4:19 p.m. on Twitter, and said the size was at 40 acres.

The fire is 0 percent contained and has a moderate rate of spread.

An arson investigation is underway into the Colleen Fire, which scorched a hilly area covered with dry brush, according to the San Jose Fire Department.

PG&E’s plan won support last week in a landslide, with victims overwhelmingly backing PG&E’s $58 billion proposal to emerge from bankruptcy after a year-and-half.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup imposed the conditions last month as part of the utility's probation in a criminal pipeline safety case. 

Newsom says there is no choice but to fight fire and disease simultaneously and aggressively.