October 2017 Northern California wildfires

Days prior to the wildfires, the National Weather Service had begun issuing red-flag warnings throughout much of northern California as conditions were expected to become extremely volatile, with winds expected to be gusting between {{convert|25|and|35|mph}} from the north to the south.{{Cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/CALFIRE/photos/a.157450722389.116355.113654417389/10155823047392390/?type=3&theater|title=Red Flag Warnings|date=October 7, 2017|access-date=October 7, 2017|publisher=CAL FIRE}} By the evening of October 8, the Diablo winds were reported gusting up to {{convert|70|mph}} within the affected areas as over a dozen wildfires began to break out.{{cite news|last1=Lin II|first1=Rong-Gong|title='Diablo winds' fuel widespread destruction from fires in California wine country|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-fire-diablo-winds-20171009-story.html|access-date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 9, 2017}}

Many of those killed in the fires are believed to have died late on October 8 or early on October 9, 2017, when most of the fires broke out overnight. Most of the victims were elderly, though the ages of the victims ranged from 14 to 100 years old.{{cite news|title=Firefighters beating back deadly California wildfires, official says|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/15/california-wildfires-death-toll-evacuations|access-date=October 15, 2017|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 15, 2017}}

On October 9, California governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada, and Orange, and sent a letter to the White House requesting a major disaster declaration.{{cite news|last1=Lyons|first1=Jenna|last2=Rubenstein|first2=Steve|last3=Aleaziz|first3=Hamed|last4=Fimrite|first4=Peter|last5=Tucker|first5=Jill|title=Live updates: 23 dead in Wine Country fires; parts of city of Napa warned|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Live-updates-23-dead-in-Wine-Country-fires-12271728.php|access-date=October 11, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 11, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Julia Carrie|author-link=Julia Carrie Wong|last2=Gee|first2=Alastair|title=California wildfires: 10 killed in 'unprecedented' wine country blaze|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/09/california-wildfires-wine-country-blaze|access-date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 9, 2017}} President Donald Trump approved the disaster declaration on October 10. That evening, Governor Brown issued an emergency declaration for Solano County. Surveying the region, representative Mike Thompson of California's 5th congressional district said, "I fully expect this will be the worst fire disaster in California history."

More than 10,000 firefighters battled the blaze, using more than 1,000 fire engines and other equipment, with crews arriving from as far away as Canada and Australia.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reported mobilizing 4,300 workers to restore power. It also said that more than 350,000 customers had lost electric service and 42,000 customers gas service since the wildfires began on October 8. By October 14, PG&E had restored electricity to 92% and gas service to 16,800 of the customers affected.

Reinsurance broker Aon Benfield stated that these are the costliest wildfires in U.S. history, with an estimated eight billion U.S. dollars in insured losses. The largest portion of these losses was to residential property. Additional losses were to automobiles, commercial property including business interruption insurance, and to crops. Many of the losses were in urban areas not historically prone to wildfire exposure.{{cite web |url=http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2017/11/21/2017-to-be-one-of-the-costliest-catastrophe-loss-y|title=2017 to be one of the costliest catastrophe loss years ever, Fitch says |last=Ling |first=Danielle |date=November 21, 2017 |website=Property Casualty 360° |publisher=ALM Media, LLC |access-date=November 21, 2017}}

File:Smoky sunrise over San Francisco, October 2017.jpg

By October 12, the air quality in the city of Napa was ranked the poorest in the nation, due to high levels of particulates and ozone.{{cite news|last1=Lyons|first1=Jenna|last2=Rubenstein|first2=Steve|last3=Gutierrez|first3=Melody|title=Live updates: Fire death toll at 29 in Northern California fires|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Live-updates-23-dead-in-Wine-Country-fires-12271728.php|access-date=October 12, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 12, 2017}} By October 13, air quality in the city reached the "hazardous" level, the most dangerous on the Environmental Protection Agency scale. In Solano County, over 250 people were sickened by smoke inhalation, and sought care at hospitals. Twenty-three were admitted to emergency rooms.

By October 12, smoke from the wildfires had spread nearly 100 miles, with "unhealthy" air quality indices registered in the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Rafael. Due to the poor air quality, San Francisco State University canceled classes, and outdoor activities were canceled in a number of cities, including Danville, Palo Alto, and Walnut Creek.{{cite news|last1=Lyons|first1=Jenna|last2=Ma|first2=Annie|last3=Egelko|first3=Bob|last4=Gutierrez|first4=Melody|title=Live updates: Death toll rises to 32 in Northern California wildfires|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Live-updates-Death-toll-climbs-to-29-in-Northern-12274332.php|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 13, 2017|date=October 13, 2017}} Visibility issues spurred the Federal Aviation Administration to implement a ground delay program at San Francisco International Airport, and nearly 280 flights were canceled over a three-day period.{{cite news|last1=Ioannou|first1=Filipa|title=Wildfire smoke continues to delay, cancel flights at SFO|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sfo-cancellations-delays-wildfire-smoke-flights-12276205.php|access-date=October 13, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 13, 2017}} Over a week after the fires started, flights continued to be canceled and delayed due to poor visibility from the smoke.{{cite news|last1=Ioannou|first1=Filipa|title=Smoke continues to cause delays and cancellations at SFO|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sfo-smoke-cancelled-flights-delays-air-fires-12285480.php|access-date=October 17, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 17, 2017}}

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The Cherokee Fire broke out on the evening of Sunday, October 8, near Oroville in Butte County just after 9 PM PDT. Reportedly igniting near Cherokee Road, the fire quickly expanded from hundreds to thousands of acres within a few hours of burning as it threatened nearby Oroville and surrounding rural neighborhoods.{{cite news|title=Crews Working Fast-Moving Fire in Oroville Near Cherokee Road|url=http://fox40.com/2017/10/08/fire-crews-working-600-acre-fire-in-oroville-near-cherokee-road/|access-date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=FOX 40|date=October 9, 2017}}

{{Main|Atlas Fire}}

File:Napa Sonoma fires.jpg, nearest to the Atlas fire and looking toward the Nuns fire. Point Reyes is visible in the distance.]]

The Atlas Fire burned Napa County, north of the city of Napa, near Napa Soda Springs. On October 29, the fire had burned {{Convert|51,057|acre|ha}} and was 100% contained.

File:Tubbs and Pocket fires.jpg and Pocket fires, with the north end of Lake Berryessa, October 12]]

File:11 November 2017, Napa, Sonoma fires, Landsat 8, bands 753.tif

{{Main|Tubbs Fire}}

The Tubbs Fire started near Tubbs Lane in Calistoga on the evening of October 8, 2017, and burned at least {{Convert|34,000|acre|ha|0}}.{{cite news|title=Santa Rosa mayor: 2,834 homes destroyed in Tubbs Fire|url=http://www.kcra.com/article/santa-rosa-mayor-2834-homes-destroyed-in-tubbs-fire/12836229|access-date=October 12, 2017|newspaper=KCRA|date=October 12, 2017}} In the Fountain Grove area numerous homes, the Fountaingrove Inn, the historic Round Barn, and a Hilton resort were destroyed.{{cite news|title=Fire destroys Paradise Ridge Winery, Fountaingrove Inn, Willi's Wine Bar, other local landmarks|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7507522-181/santa-rosa-fire-consumes-businesses|access-date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=The Press Democrat|date=October 9, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010095710/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7507522-181/santa-rosa-fire-consumes-businesses|url-status=dead}} By October 14, the death toll from this fire alone had risen to 20. By October 20, the Tubbs Fire had become the most destructive wildfire in the history of California. This was later surpassed by the Camp Fire (2018).

A filing by PG&E to the judge overseeing PG&E's probation for the 2010 San Bruno fire said that the Tubbs Fire may have started with privately owned equipment on private property for which PG&E was not responsible.{{cite news |page=A1 |title=PG&E faces new scrutiny: Role in wildfires: Many workers spotted Butte County blaze early |author1=Erin Allday |author2=Roland Li | publisher=San Francisco Chronicle| date=January 1, 2019}}

The Nuns Fire, centered in the areas to the east and north of the city of Sonoma, merged with the Norrbom fire on October 11.{{cite web|title=Incident Update|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentfile1866_2739.pdf|website=Cal Fire|access-date=October 13, 2017|date=October 12, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013225327/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentfile1866_2739.pdf|url-status=dead}} The Adobe fire merged with Nuns/Norrbom on October 12. The Partrick fire joined the four-fire conflagration on October 13. By October 16, the combined fire, which now also included the Pressley fire, covered over {{Convert|48,000|acre|ha}}. On October 18, the Oakmont Fire merged into the Nuns Fire, and the combined fire grew to over {{Convert|54,000|acre|ha}} in size.

Based on the investigation by CalFire, it has been found that Pacific Gas & Electric equipment was the cause of all of the individual fires except for the Tubbs Fire.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8413929-181/cal-fire-pge-equipment-caused|title=Cal Fire: PG&E equipment caused 12 Northern California fires|date=2018-06-08|work=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|access-date=2018-06-10}} In January 2019 CalFire determined the Tubbs Fire was caused by incorrectly maintained electrical equipment owned by a private landowner.{{cite news |last1=Callahan |first1=Mary |title=Cal Fire: Private equipment, not PG&E, caused Tubbs fire |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9207814-181/cal-fire-says-tubbs-fire |access-date=January 24, 2019 |work=Santa Rosa Press Democrat |date=January 24, 2019}} However, in August 2019 a fast-track jury trial was scheduled to revisit whether or not PG&E was the cause of the Tubbs Fire.{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Julie |title=Bankruptcy judge clears way for trial against PG&E on Tubbs fire |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9911377-181/bankruptcy-judge-clears-way-for?sba=AAS |newspaper=The Press Democrat |date=August 16, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Morris |first=J.D. |title=PG&E's role in the 2017 Tubbs Fire to go to jury trial |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-s-role-in-the-2017-Tubbs-Fire-can-go-to-14339267.php |newspaper=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 16, 2019}}{{Cite Q|Q114357413|access-date=2022-10-03}}

News media noted reports of wind-damaged power equipment around the time the fires were starting. Pacific Gas & Electric stated that strong winds had affected the utility's power lines in the North Bay area on late October 8 and early October 9.{{cite news |title=Cause of raging Northern California fires remains under investigation, officials say |date=11 October 2017 |first=Dakota |last=Smith |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-northern-california-fires-live-cause-of-raging-norcal-fires-remains-1507766476-htmlstory.html |access-date=15 October 2017}} A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) spokesperson stated that investigators were considering this among other possible causes.

The California Public Utilities Commission sent PG&E a notification to preserve equipment, emails, and documents relevant to the utility's tree-trimming program.{{cite news |last1=Baker| first1=David R. |title=California regulators tell PG&E to preserve fire evidence |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-regulators-tell-PG-E-to-preserve-fire-12274443.php |access-date=November 22, 2017 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=SFGate |date=October 12, 2017}}

CAL FIRE Director Ken Pimlott discouraged premature speculation of causes, stating that, "The facts will come out when the investigations are done."{{cite news |title=Downed lines, equipment failures among possible causes of Northern California wildfires |date=12 October 2017 |first=Hannah |last=Albarazi |publisher=CBS San Francisco |url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/10/12/downed-lines-equipment-failures-possible-causes-california-wildfires/ |access-date=15 October 2017}}

On July 1, 2020, the PG&E Fire Victim Trust (FVT) was established as part of the reorganization plan{{cite web |author=PG&E |title=Disclosure Statement to the Plan |url=https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/pge/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MzM5MzQx&id2=0 |website=Prime Clerk |date=March 17, 2020 |pages=24–29 |format=PDF download}} of the 2019 bankruptcy of PG&E to administer the claims of the wildfire victims.{{cite news |title=PG&E Fire Victim Trust Begins Accepting Online Claims From California Wildfire Victims |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200821005088/en/ |newspaper=businesswire |date=August 21, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Fire Victim Trust - Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.firevictimtrust.com/Docs/FAQs.pdf |website=firevictimtrust.com |date=August 17, 2020}} Also on July 1, PG&E funded the Fire Victim Trust (FVT) with $5.4 billion in cash and 22.19% of stock in the reorganized PG&E, which covers most of the obligations of its settlement for the wildfire victims.{{cite news |last=Penn |first=Ivan |title=PG&E, Troubled California Utility, Emerges From Bankruptcy |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/business/energy-environment/pge-bankruptcy-ends.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 1, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Iovino |first= Nicholas |title=PG&E Emerges From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/pge-emerges-from-chapter-11-bankruptcy/ |newspaper=Courthouse News Service |date=July 1, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Fire Victim Trust Funded July 1st |url= https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fire-victim-trust-funded-july-1st-301087017.html |newspaper=PR Newswire |date=July 1, 2020}} PG&E has two more payments totaling $1.35 billion in cash, scheduled to be paid in January 2021 and January 2022, to complete its obligations to the wildfire victims.{{cite news |last=Iovino |first=Nicholas |title=PG&E Boosts Stock for Fire Victims in Bankruptcy Case |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/pge-boosts-stock-for-fire-victims-in-bankruptcy-case/ |newspaper=Courthouse News Service |date=June 12, 2020}}

Claimants are wildfire victims from the 2017 North Bay Fires, 2015 Butte Fire, and 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California. The 2017 Tubbs Fire is considered to be one of the 2017 North Bay Fires. The court case for the Tubbs Fire was superseded by the PG&E Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) of December 9, 2019{{cite web |title=RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/75488/000095015719001393/ex10-1.htm |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date=December 9, 2019}} and by the PG&E bankruptcy reorganization plan, wherein PG&E accepted liability for the Tubbs Fire.{{cite web |author=PG&E |title=Disclosure Statement to the Plan |url=https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/pge/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MzM5MzQx&id2=0 |website=Prime Clerk |date=March 17, 2020 |pages=9, 159 |format=PDF download}}

• 2017 California wildfires
• December 2017 Southern California wildfires
• October 2007 California wildfires
• Oakland firestorm of 1991
• Recloser
• Witch Fire
• San Diego Gas and Electric
• Pacific Gas and Electric
• Utility-caused wildfires

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.sfchronicle.com/north-bay-fires/ Interactive map of fires] (San Francisco Chronicle)

{{California wildfires}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2017 10 Southern California wildfires}}

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Category:October 2017 in the United States