") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gpjOba::before{display:none}}.hWxisF{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.hWxisF{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.hWxisF{max-width:622px}}.lmuuNK{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#0074bd}.ctXiMg{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.SKFrh{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.SKFrh:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.SKFrh:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#005c97}.ghJHgZ{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jlvSeZ{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.jlvSeZ::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@media(min-width:768px){.ifXxYf{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.gYsKvs{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.qHctg .taboola{display:none}}.qHctg:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.qHctg:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.qHctg:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.qHctg:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.hCEqSm .tp-container-inner,.hCEqSm .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.hCEqSm.closed{display:none}.cNUww{width:32px;color:#4c9dd0}@media(min-width:768px){.cNUww.mobile-only{display:none}}.cNUww:hover{color:#99c7e4}.wViVX{display:flex;gap:12px}.cArLiK .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.isfpiE{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#70a5a7}.ixvYXS{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.hCHeth{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.hCHeth{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.hvJvAA{display:flex}.sticky .hvJvAA{flex-direction:column}.kciiLJ{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.kciiLJ{height:25px}}.fSsEip{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fSsEip::after{content:':'}.kdqbii{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.kdqbii::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .eXIHQG{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .eXIHQG{margin-top:-407px}}.eXIHQG>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .eXIHQG>p{line-height:27px}.eXIHQG>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .eXIHQG>h2{color:#0074bd}.article-sgi .eXIHQG>h2{color:#0074bd}.eXIHQG>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.eXIHQG span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.cnknzo{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.cnknzo{min-height:450px}}.teads .cnknzo{display:block}.cnknzo [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.dTdlgq{display:none}}.dTdlgq[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.dTdlgq.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.gMxIQB{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fJIQUi{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eFDpwi{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.eFDpwi{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.eFDpwi{max-width:622px}}.bZTzYt{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #0074bd;background-color:#e5f1f8}@media(min-width:768px){.bZTzYt{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.dDFcwe{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dDFcwe{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.jbPJqN{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.jbPJqN{display:none}}.kKulbz{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#e5f1f8;color:#0074bd}@media(min-width:768px){.kKulbz{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.bcQtEw{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jDmWqj{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jDmWqj:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jDmWqj:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#005c97}.bhFQeV{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.kqOtlp{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.kqOtlp{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bvgAkY{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bvgAkY{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.ZbvOr{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.ZbvOr{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.cqHcKs{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.cqHcKs{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.bjQKsM{order:-1}}.ikTXHr .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(229,241,248,0);--fade-mid:rgba(229,241,248,0.5);--fade-to:#e5f1f8}@media(min-width:360px){.ikTXHr .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}.dVyExd{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.dVyExd{min-height:450px}}.jHlYLm{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm{min-height:450px}}.jHlYLm.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm.mobile-only{display:none}}.jHlYLm.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.jHlYLm.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.jHlYLm .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.czoMqL{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.czoMqL .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.czoMqL .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.czoMqL .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.czoMqL.sponsored-article img,.czoMqL.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.czoMqL.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.czoMqL .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.czoMqL .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.czoMqL .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.czoMqL .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL{max-width:624px;margin:0}.czoMqL.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.czoMqL{padding-right:0}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222}.hxWiMl{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#fff;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.hxWiMl{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hxWiMl{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.hIiCJP{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:20px}}.hIiCJP::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.hIiCJP:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.hIiCJP{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.hIiCJP::before{margin-top:2px}}.hIiCJP time{display:block}.hIiCJP time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.gFbuyn{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#4c9dd0;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.gFbuyn:hover,.gFbuyn:active{color:#99c7e4}@media(min-width:768px){.gFbuyn{margin-bottom:0}}.bouHwM{margin:0 12px 8px -8px}@media(min-width:768px){.bouHwM{margin-bottom:0}}.kCpbyG{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.kCpbyG::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#fff;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.kCpbyG:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.kCpbyG{margin-bottom:0}}.kuCYzg{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.kuCYzg{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kuCYzg{width:30%}}.gpMjkH{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.gpMjkH{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gpMjkH{flex-direction:row}}.itsRqc{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.itsRqc{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .itsRqc{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.itsRqc{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .itsRqc{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.itsRqc a{color:#fff}.itsRqc a:hover{color:#99c7e4}.itsRqc a:hover::after{color:#fff}.itsRqc a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.itsRqc a:last-child::after{display:none}.bPeEQC{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.bpwcVt{margin:0;color:#fff;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bpwcVt{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bpwcVt{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bpwcVt p{font:inherit}.article-feature .bpwcVt a{font-weight:bold}.jaLjpk{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222}@media(min-width:1000px){.jaLjpk{padding:0 16px}.parallax .jaLjpk{max-width:1240px}}.clZtvZ{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.cEPZGL{background:#222}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-2,.cEPZGL .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.cEPZGL .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}.kUPUEy{max-width:100%}.kOdxXt{position:relative}.jnopNU{position:relative;width:100%;padding-top:56.25%;background:#000}.iJggkx{display:flex;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center}.ppqnz{width:10%}.YFQWD.fullscreen{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:3000000000;width:100%;height:100%;background:#000}.YFQWD .closebtn{display:none;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;width:100px;height:100px}.YFQWD .closebtn.show{display:block}.YFQWD .btn{position:absolute;top:5px;right:5px;width:25px;height:25px;color:#222;font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:25px;text-align:center}.hIqZkH{max-width:100%;clear:both}.ldpSwp{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .ldpSwp{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.ilJfaV{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.fIgmuu{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.fIgmuu.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.grPbuS{min-height:600px}.grPbuS #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.jfSvuX{min-height:250px}.kdHApG{max-width:100%}.dgoHoz{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.eSkAOW{margin:0 0 12px}.ctSnkl{height:380px}.cCOQKx{width:100%;height:51px}.NgRo{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.ksidoU{margin-bottom:16px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.bhdekM{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.bhdekM{display:none}}.dvQXpA{width:308px}.dvQXpA.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.dvQXpA{display:none}}.article-liveblog .bZTaXI{background-color:#f7f7f7}.wQyIS{justify-content:center}.jQYxbM{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
Climate News PG&E to pay $55m to avoid criminal prosecution for two major California wildfires The Dixie Fire is 2021 was one of the largest in the state’s history
Louise Boyle Senior Climate Correspondent, New York
Monday 11 April 2022 15:27 EDT
Yosemite wildfires worsen Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more Utility company Pacific Gas & Electric is set to pay $55m to avoid criminal prosecution over two major wildfires in California .
The Dixie Fire last year, which exploded into one of the largest in the state’s history, and the 2019 Kincade Fire were both started by aging power lines owned by the company.
PG& does not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlements which will funnel financial damages to hundreds of homeowners who lost their properties.
PG&E also will submit to five years of oversight by an independent monitor similar to the supervision it faced during five years of criminal probation after it was convicted for misconduct that contributed to its natural gas explosion that killed eight people in 2010.
The Dixie fire was a megablaze which burned nearly one million acres across five Northern California counties. It killed one firefighter, and left three others injured. More than 1,300 buildings were destroyed.
The blaze was caused by a tree hitting electrical distribution lines west of a dam in the Sierra Nevada, where the fire began on July 13, last year, according to state fire investigators.
The Kincade fire burned across more than 77,700 acres in Sonoma County, home to some of California’s most celebrated wineries. More than 370 buildings were destroyed and nearly 100,000 evacuated.
Sonoma County prosecutors filed 33 criminal charges last year accusing PG&E of inadvertently injuring six firefighters and endangering public health with smoke and ash from the Kincade Fire.
PG&E has been blamed for more than 30 wildfires since 2017 that wiped out more than 23,000 homes and businesses and killed more than 100 people. It previously reached settlements with wildfire victims of more than $25.5bn.
While PG&E, the country’s largest utility, has sparked some of California’s most devastating fires, the climate crisis is exacerbating blazes in the state, and across the US more broadly. Extreme heat and a years-long drought, along with diminished snowpack and rainfall, is fuelling larger, more unpredictable fires.
AP contributed to this report
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments