NewsCalifornia News

Actions

PG&E fined $4 million in deaths of 84 people in 2018 fire

Posted
and last updated

Pacific Gas & Electric has been fined $4 million for the deaths of 84 people killed in a Northern California wildfire. The utility admitted the blaze started because of its long-neglected electrical grid.

The sentencing comes as the nation’s largest utility prepares to end a bankruptcy proceeding triggered by the catastrophe. The maximum penalty was a mere formality because PG&E had already worked it out in a plea agreement.

The deal resolves charges stemming from a November 2018 wildfire that wiped out the town of Paradise, California. The judge said if a person and not a company had committed similar crimes they would have received 90 years in prison.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Saturday

03/14/2026

Mostly Clear

-° / 53°

4%

Sunday

03/15/2026

Mostly Clear

82° / 56°

6%

Monday

03/16/2026

Mostly Clear

87° / 59°

3%

Tuesday

03/17/2026

Clear

91° / 62°

2%

Wednesday

03/18/2026

Clear

93° / 63°

2%

Thursday

03/19/2026

Clear

92° / 63°

3%

Friday

03/20/2026

Clear

94° / 64°

1%

Saturday

03/21/2026

Partly Cloudy

96° / 63°

0%