California wildfires

Tanker 914 is operated by the Albuquerque-based 10 Tanker. It's one of four DC-10 jumbo jets converted to fight fires. The huge planes are 181 feet long and have a wingspan of 165 feet. Fully loaded before making a drop, the aircraft can tip the scale at

Environment

In California, Air Tanker Pilots Help Keep Wildfires At Bay

5:16pm October 29, 2019

by Matt Guilhem

As fires blaze across the state, California firefighters have called in some of the biggest air tankers for help. The giant jets are dumping a fire retardant, Phos-Chek, on the flames.

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Firefighters try to battle the flames ravaging homes Monday in Los Angeles, as the Getty Fire threatens lives and structures around the city.

Getty Fire Threatens Homes, Snarls Traffic In LA As Blazes Rage On Farther North

3:27pm October 28, 2019

by Colin Dwyer

The Getty wildfire erupted overnight, partially closing I-405 — the nation's busiest freeway. But that's not California's only worry, as the Kincade Fire continues to menace Sonoma County.

PG&E says it will pay $11 billion to resolve insurance companies' claims from the 2017 Northern California wildfires and the 2018 Camp Fire. Here, destroyed homes are seen in Paradise, Calif., where the Camp Fire raged last November.

National

PG&E Agrees To Pay $11 Billion Insurance Settlement Over California Wildfires

11:41am September 13, 2019

by Bill Chappell

The deal, which a bankruptcy court must approve, covers most of the claims from the Camp Fire in 2018 and Northern California wine country fires in 2017. Insurance companies had sought $20 billion.

Residents in Ventura, Calif., believed large hilltop water tanks would provide ample water during a wildfire. But the water stopped flowing for some residents trying to protect their homes during 2017's Thomas Fire.

Unanswered Questions Leave Californians Worried About Fire Season

12:00pm August 20, 2019

by Stephanie O'Neill

Warm temperatures have Californians again bracing for wildfires. But to better prepare, the residents of Ventura say they need a clearer picture of what went wrong in the destructive 2017 Thomas Fire.

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Volunteer rescue workers search for human remains in the rubble of homes burned in the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. State officials say the fire was caused by PG&E power lines.

PG&E Transmission Lines Caused California's Deadliest Wildfire, State Officials Say

10:47pm May 15, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

The utility giant had already acknowledged that the fire investigation would likely find its equipment responsible for the Camp Fire in 2018.

PG&E crews work to restore power lines in Paradise, Calif., after the Camp Fire destroyed much of the Northern California town.

Federal Judge Imposes New Probation Terms On PG&E To Reduce Wildfire Risk

7:03pm April 02, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

The utility company is already on probation for its felony conviction related to a 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion.

Firefighters battle flames at a burning apartment complex in Paradise, Calif., in November. PG&E could shut down power to as many as 5.4 million customers during extreme weather conditions.

PG&E Could Shut Off Power For Millions To Prevent Wildfires

11:17am February 07, 2019

by Matthew S. Schwartz

The utility could cut power to as many as 5.4 million during extreme weather conditions. PG&E declared bankruptcy last month in the face of billions of dollars in wildfire-related liabilities.

Noah Fisher looks over his home that was destroyed by the Camp Fire in November 2018 in Paradise, California. Investigators are examining whether PG&E power lines helped ignite the fire.

Environment

Federal Judge Blasts PG&E's Commitment To California Wildfire Safety

10:17pm January 30, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

In unusually frank language, the judge said he fears the potential for more fires in 2019 if the utility company does not take drastic action.

The Tubbs wildfire burns behind a winery in Santa Rosa, Calif., in 2017. A state report finds that it was caused by privately owned utility lines.

California Investigation Finds PG&E Blameless In Massive 2017 Wine Region Wildfire

8:52pm January 24, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

Power transmission lines owned by the beleaguered utility company are still the focus of an investigation into the cause of the Camp Fire in 2018.

With a downed power utility pole in the foreground, residents of Paradise, Calif., examine a burned-out vehicle destroyed by last year's wildfire.

PG&E Says Federal Judge's Safety Plan Is Not Feasible And Too Expensive

8:28pm January 23, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

The utility company is trying to convince a federal judge to modify a wide-ranging proposal to mitigate wildfire risk. PG&E is also seeking bankruptcy protection.