Wildfires

Data from the Federal Communications Commission shows 874 cellphone towers were offline during an Oct. 27 power shutoff that affected millions of people. That included more than half of the cell towers in Marin County alone.

Australia’s government said Monday it was willing to pay “whatever it takes” to help communities recover from deadly wildfires that have ravaged the country.

Lawmakers in the Democratic-dominated state Legislature return to work Monday for the second year of a two-year session.

The crew of federal firefighters based in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles will depart on Monday, said Carrie Bilbao, a spokeswoman with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, which is mobilizing U.S. resources in response to Australia's requests for international firefighting aide.

The utility agreed to pay $13.5 billion to fire victims and others. Some of the money is earmarked to repay government agencies that paid for rescue and recovery efforts. 

Bill Johnson testified Thursday before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Washington D.C. He was asked about tools to prevent wildfires, including the power shutoffs.

Despite the large paychecks, fire commanders and experts across the state argue that it’s often cheaper to pay the overtime than to hire more firefighters, once the cost of training and benefits for new employees are taken into account

Pacific Gas and Electric has reworked a $13.5 billion settlement with victims of deadly wildfires blamed on the utility to try to prevent it from unraveling after California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected the company’s financial rehabilitation plan.

A family who lost all their possessions in the Tubbs Fire, including a special, more-than-century-old walnut tree, has found a sense of closure and renewal.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has rejected a bankruptcy reorganization plan that Pacific Gas and Electric reached just last week with thousands of wildfire victims, including a $13.5 billion settlement.

Wildfire safety complaints voiced to PG&E by a veteran lineman were ignored and led to his termination, according to a $7.6 million lawsuit filed against the bankrupt utility.

Attorneys inked the deal with PG&E Friday, paving the way for thousands of wildfire victims to receive compensation.