Tree, power lines caused Zogg Fire, reports Cal Fire

The Zogg Fire, which killed four people and destroyed more than 200 structures when it tore through Shasta County last year, was caused by a pine tree falling on electrical lines, investigators said Monday.

“After a meticulous and thorough investigation, Cal Fire has determined that the Zogg Fire was caused by a pine tree contacting electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric located north of the community of Igo,” Cal Fire said in a statement.

The 56,338acre blaze that ignited on Sept. 27 burned for 17 days before it was contained on Oct. 13.

The determination comes after years of intense scrutiny for the utility company’s role in a some of the state’s most destructive fires, including the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County and the 2019 Kincade Fire in Sonoma County.

PG&E called the Zogg Fire “tragic,” but did not comment on the outcome of the Cal Fire investigation.

“While we have not been given access to Cal Fire’s report or evidence it collected, we look forward to reviewing both when we are allowed to do so,” PG&E spokesman James Noonan said in a statement.

In October, before the blaze was fully contained, Cal Fire investigators seized electrical equipment from a location near the fire’s origin.

It’s unclear how the ruling will affect the lawsuit Shasta and Tehama counties filed in December against PG&E, alleging negligence and saying the company failed to remove a hazardous pine tree. PG&E already owes millions to victims of its previous fires.

In response to the CalFire determination Monday, Noonan said PG&E remained committed to reducing wildfire risk by speeding up inspections of its electric infrastructure and improving management of vegetation around power lines.