California wildfires News

Congress Passes $19 Billion in Disaster Aid, Sends Bill to Trump

The House cleared a $19 billion disaster-aid plan for areas hit by hurricanes, Midwest floods and California wildfires on Monday after months of negotiations and a final delay of more than a week caused by Republican objections. The bill, passed …

Judge Approves $105M Fund for California Wildfire Survivors

Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. received approval Wednesday to establish a $105 million fund to help survivors of recent California wildfires started by the utility’s equipment. A federal judge overseeing PG&E’s bankruptcy case approved the utility’s wildfire assistance program to …

A Month Out From Wildfire Season and PG&E Is Behind on Tree Work

California is just one month away from the official start of wildfire season and bankrupt utility giant PG&E Corp. is running behind on inspections, repairs and tree-trimming that was ordered up to reduce the risk of another devastating blaze. PG&E, …

‘Falling Through the Cracks’: Vulnerable Homeowners Overlooked after Disasters

WASHINGTON — It was the middle of the night when Yvonne Rawhouser’s neighbor woke her up to warn her that a nearby hillside was aflame. The wildfire that had been raging through northern California’s wine country in October 2017 was …

PG&E Caps Best Day Since Going Bankrupt on a California Fire Fix

Utility giant PG&E Corp. capped its best day since going bankrupt in January thanks to California’s governor. Gavin Newsom called on lawmakers on Friday to find a way to help the state’s utilities cover the costs of devastating wildfires — …

Fire-Resistant Upgrades Could Be a Game-Changer in Wildfires

About the photo: The sun rises through a cloud of smoke after a wildfire swept through the area in Sonoma County on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (Paul Kitagaki Jr. /The Sacramento Bee via AP) PARADISE, Calif.– …

Judge Orders PG&E to Hold Dividends to Pay for Efforts to Reduce Wildfire Risks

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A U.S. judge said on Tuesday that PG&E Corp cannot resume dividends and must use the money to reduce wildfire risk in California, stopping short of more costly measures he proposed earlier this year. The new …

Investigators Pin Thomas Fire on Southern California Power Lines

One of the largest fires in California history was sparked by Southern California Edison power lines that came into contact during high winds, investigators said Wednesday. The resulting arc ignited dry brush on Dec. 4, 2017, starting the blaze in …

California Wildfire Victims Living in RVs Ordered to Leave Properties

Hundreds of Northern California wildfire victims desperate for housing and living in recreational vehicles on their burned-out lots were ordered off their properties Monday after federal authorities threatened to cut off funding for the state’s biggest natural disaster cleanup. The …

California Utility Spent Almost $10M for 2018 Lobbying

Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. spent nearly $10 million on California lobbying efforts in the year before the utility giant declared bankruptcy, spending more than any other entity seeking to influence California government in 2018. The majority of that money …