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PG&E: California power firm to pay $ 13.5bn to wildfire victims – BBC News, Bbc.com

PG&E: California power firm to pay $ 13.5bn to wildfire victims – BBC News, Bbc.com


        

                                 A firefighter battles the Camp Fire blaze in Paradise, CaliforniaImage copyright                 EPA                                                      
Image caption                                    The Camp Fire killed scores of people and caused billions of dollars of damage                             

Californian utility giant Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has agreed a $ 13 .5bn (£ (**********************************************************. (2bn) settlement with victims of wildfires in the state.

The company equipment has been linked to several blazes including the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history, ‘s Camp Fire.

    ********** PG&E filed for bankruptcy this year and has already settled with insurers and local authorities.

    The agreements should allow the firm to emerge from bankruptcy.

    PG & E’s settlement relates to claims over several deadly blazes:

    (The

      ****************** Camp Fire which killed 90 people in and around the town of Paradise. Investigators blamed the fire on PG&E transmission lines

    • The 2018Northern California wildfires, which swept through the state’s wine country killing more than people
    • The Ghost Ship Fire

      in Oakland, when a blaze tore through a warehouse that had been converted into a music venue and artist collective. 84 people died

    • The 2016Butte Fire, which caused two deaths and burned down hundreds of structures. Authorities said a PG&E power line came in contact with a tree, sparking the blaze.

      PG&E President Bill Johnson said since entering the bankruptcy process“getting wildfire victims fairly compensated, especially the individuals, has been our primary goal.

    “We want to help our customers, our neighbors and our friends in those impacted areas recover and rebuild after these tragic wildfires,” he said.

    This year saw yet more rampant wildfires and the firm sought to prevent them by cutting off power to customers in California .

    More on wildfires in California:

                

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Media captionCalifornia wildfires survivor’s tearful account of escape with son

The day Paradise burned down

California wildfires ‘can now happen in any year’

            ************************************************Read More

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