State Lawmakers to Attorney General: Probe PG&E Fire Victim Trust

May 28, 2021

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers has asked for California Attorney General Rob Bonta to probe the spending and administration of the PG&E Fire Victim Trust.

Environment

Frustration And Tears As Paradise Turns Out To Protest The PG&E Fire Victim Trust

May 24, 2021

The Fire Victim Trust was set up last year to distribute billions of dollars as part of a settlement between fire survivors and PG&E. At the end of last year, fire victims had received less than 0.1% of the roughly $13.5 billion they were promised.

A Cascade of Outrage Follows Investigation Into PG&E Fire Victim Trust Expenses

May 17, 2021

Fire victims and public officials are calling for increased oversight of the Fire Victim Trust set up to distribute billions of dollars in compensation to families displaced by fires sparked by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. equipment.

Survivors Stuck In Limbo As PG&E Fire Victim Trust Pays Out $50 Million In Fees

May 6, 2021

In its first year of operation, the PG&E Fire Victim Trust spent nearly 90% of its funds on overhead expenses while families who lost their homes waited for help.

Shutdown Hampers Wildfire Preparedness and Training Across The Country

January 12, 2019

The partial government shutdown is interfering with preparations for the fire season.

'Blessings Come In' As Churches Take In Refugee Congregations After The Camp Fire

December 23, 2018

Chico, Calif. has had to make room for thousands of refugees and several displaced congregations after California's deadliest most destructive fire destroyed the town of Paradise in Butte County.

All Camp Fire Evacuation Orders Lifted

December 15, 2018

The fire broke out Nov. 8, killing at least 86 people and destroying 14,000 homes in Paradise and nearby communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

State Says Seniors Were Abandoned During California Wildfire

September 6, 2018

A Department of Social Services complaint says more than 20 people would have died in a dementia facility if family members and emergency responders hadn't evacuated them after all staff left.

State Government

What The Heck Is In California’s Wildfire Liability Law That Lawmakers Are Voting On Friday Night?

August 31, 2018 | Ben Adler

California lawmakers have voted to shift billions of dollars of wildfire-recovery costs from electric utility shareholders to ratepayers.

Verizon Makes Changes As Lawmakers Decry Firefighters' Woes

August 24, 2018

Verizon rolled out changes Friday as state lawmakers said they were outraged to learn that the company slowed firefighters' internet service while they battled what became the state's largest-ever wildfire, the Mendocino Complex.