What Happens During the Investigation into the Camp Fire

Today, fire officials in California released information that the Tubbs Fire of 2017 was caused by a private electrical system, which means that liability has been decided and the case turned out much differently than initially expected. Investigators are still looking into the Camp Fire, however, and are not completely sure as to what led to the fire in full that caused many to lose their lives, many injuries, and thousands of homes to burn to the ground.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is working laboriously to ensure that the true cause of the Camp Fire is discovered so that all parties involved will be able to move forward. Many of those who lost their lives were identified as elderly men and women who had no chance to escape the blaze. At this time, the one focus of the investigation remains: electrical equipment operated by PG&E in a tiny town named Pulga. If PG&E is actually found to be liable in the end, criminal charges could be brought against the company and bankruptcy is likely imminent. In fact, PG&E is planning on filing for bankruptcy by the end of the month if everything goes to plan.

Though the investigation into the matter continues, several employees of PG&E reported flames at two different origin points and so a thorough investigation will show if these claims are just and if PG&E will be faulted for the Camp Fire that took so many lives.

As the Investigation Proceeds 

When a wildfire has wiped out an entire town, some of the most important steps include the safety of all of those involved, which is why these investigations can take quite a long time until the evidence starts to stack up. After all the fire has burned out and it is safe to investigate, investigators must take a look at changes in the fire patterns and the safety conditions of certain areas, as well as monitoring the weather in the area at the time of the blaze and looking at debris that has been left behind. There are many different steps that must be taken to ensure that all evidence is kept safe while police and many other forestry services band together to come to a conclusion on what happened when the fire initially started.

One of the most important things to remember is the preservation of the wildfire scene from the very moment that it started. The scene where the fire allegedly began should be treated as a crime scene to some extent, as you don’t want anything to be disturbed so that the investigation is not lost from the very start. All of this can be a time-consuming process, which means that you might be waiting to hear more about PG&E’s liability, only to find that you could be waiting for quite some time.

At Marlene Leiva Law Group, our experienced wildfire attorneys are interested in helping you every step of the way when it comes to your case and protecting your rights. We want to help you understand PG&E’s possible role in the Camp Fire and your ability to bring a wildfire lawsuit so that you can gain the compensation you deserve during one of the most difficult times in your life. Our experienced attorneys are here to listen to you every step of the way. Contact us for more information at 415-459-7300.