Cal Fire: Cause of Butte Fire determined

Photos like this will be forever emblazoned
in the minds of Calaveras residents who lost
everything in this fire.

  UPDATE:  After reading the interviews of the people leasing the land where the fire started, we have more questions than answers.

   *****

   Per a press release on April 28, 2015 Cal Fire reports that:

   After a thorough investigation, CAL FIRE has determined that the 2015 Butte Fire was sparked by
a tree that came into contact with a PG&E powerline.

  Investigators were dispatched as part of the initial response to the Butte Fire and immediately began working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

   The ensuing investigation uncovered evidence that contact between a tree and a PG&E powerline near Butte Mountain Road in Amador county sparked the fire on
September 9, 2016.

   The fire burned for 22 days and spread into Calaveras County before the blaze was fully contained at 70,868 acres.

   The fire became the 7th more destructive wildfire in California's history.  Two civilians lost their lives and more than 900 structures were destroyed by the fire.

   At its peak nearly 5000 firefighters battled the blaze. Resources included 519 fire engines, 18 helicopters, 8 airtankers, 92 hand crews, 115 bulldozers and 60 water tenders.

  Under California's Health and Safety Code, Cal Fire has the ability to seek recovery of costs incurred battling wildfires that are determined to be sparked due to negligence or violations of the law.

   Cal Fire will seek to recover firefighting costs in excess of $90 million from PG&E.

   Cal Fire has submitted the Butte Fire Investigation Report to the Amador and Calaveras County District Attorneys for their review.

   The interviews with the people who leased the land involved in the fire are very interesting. You can read them at http://calfire/ca/gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_firereports. You may have to type it into your search engine.