wildfires News

California Governor Threatens To Step in and ‘Restructure’ PG&E

California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened a state takeover of PG&E Corp. unless the beleaguered utility giant makes a swift exit from bankruptcy and improves its operations to reduce the risk of wildfires. “We are gaming out a backup plan if …

Fire-Ravaged Forests Get Help from Pine Cone Collectors

ALONG THE BURNT MESA TRAIL, N.M. — With snow ready to fall, the scramble was on to collect as many ponderosa pine cones as possible. A crew outfitted with spurs, ropes and hard hats scaled hefty tree trunks and used …

California Wine Country Fire Began Near Damaged PG&E Tower, 2,000 Flee

GEYSERVILLE, Calif. — A wind-driven wildfire that forced some 2,000 people to flee homes in Northern California’s wine country on Thursday erupted near the base of a damaged high-voltage transmission tower owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Co, utility and …

California Blackouts Spread South as Fire Risk Follows the Wind

Even as winds subside in Northern California and PG&E Corp. prepares to restore electricity, blackouts are spreading south in a massive effort to keep falling power lines from igniting , . More than half a million people across the state …

Californians Endure Blackouts Again as Wildfire Threat Increases

California utilities are once again cutting electricity to prevent wildfires, in the first stage of a mass blackout that could eventually leave more than a million people without power. PG&E Corp. cut service Wednesday to 178,000 homes and businesses near …

Thousands Could Be Affected by PG&E’s Latest Planned Power Cutoffs

People in more than 180,000 homes and businesses in California could find themselves in the dark as Pacific Gas & Electric again plans to shut off power in parts of 17 counties for up to two days, as a preventive …

Travelers Profit Misses on Higher Reserves for Claims

Insurer Travelers Cos Inc reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday as it bolstered its reserves to cover asbestos-related and other claims, sending its shares down nearly 4% in trading before the bell. The insurer said it set aside an …

Viewpoint: What Do Power Outages, Wildfires, and Vaping Bans Have in Common?

At the outset, power outages, wildfires, and vaping bans do not appear similar at all, but in the rush to protect consumers and constituents from harm, companies and state legislators may be creating an entirely new, uninsured claim type. Insurance …

Florida Timber Farmers Face Tough Choices Year After Michael

BLOUNTSTOWN, Fla. — The sunsets are a sight to behold in Joe Leonard’s neck of the woods these days. A year ago, lush stands of towering pines obscured the horizon, he said as he drove his pickup along a dusty …

Conference: California Workers’ Comp Should Embrace Innovation

The workers’ compensation market apparently needs to do some catching up where it concerns technology. “Historically we’ve been really slow to adapt to technology and innovation,” said Shaun Jackson, executive director of risk management at Panda Restaurant Group. Jackson was …