PG&E skirts criminal charges, reaches settlement in Zogg wildfire
OAKLAND — PG&E will pay $50 million and take steps to mitigate wildfire risk to settle a civil case arising from the lethal Zogg Fire that burned in Shasta and Tehama counties in 2020 after criminal charges were dropped on Wednesday.and torched 204 buildings, virtually destroyed the small rural communities of Igo and Ono southwest of Redding.
“The fact that the tree fell does not itself equate to gross negligence or recklessness” on PG&E’s part, Judge Flynn stated in his ruling. “This tree was not a known risk prior to the Zogg Fire and there is no evidence to support claim that it was,” Judge Flynn stated.“We stand behind our thousands of trained and experienced coworkers and contractors working every day to keep Californians safe,” Patricia Poppe, the utility’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “We feel strongly that those good-faith judgments are not criminal.
“Most of the $45 million that PG&E will pay as part of the settlement will go to local fire departments and districts, law enforcement, and community and nonprofit organizations to rebuild and strengthen the communities affected by the Zogg Fire and to honor the victims,” PG&E said on Wednesday.
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