A devastating wildfire, allegedly sparked by a utility company's power lines, has led to a significant lawsuit filed in San Francisco. On August 6, 2024, Teri Anastasia Trehal and Keven Robert Barra lodged a complaint against PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The plaintiffs accuse the defendants of negligence that resulted in the tragic death of their young son, Thorin Kronos Robert Barra.
The lawsuit stems from the Dixie Fire that ignited on July 13, 2021. According to the complaint, PG&E's electrical equipment malfunctioned, causing sparks that ignited surrounding vegetation. The fire quickly spread and devastated numerous properties, including those rented by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs argue that PG&E's failure to maintain its infrastructure and manage vegetation around its power lines directly led to this catastrophe. They claim that "PG&E negligently, recklessly, and wantonly failed to maintain and operate the electrical equipment in its utility infrastructure," resulting in substantial harm.
In an incident report dated July 18, 2021, PG&E acknowledged a power outage at Cresta Dam off Highway 70 in Feather River Canyon at approximately 7:00 AM on July 13. A field technician observed blown fuses and a green tree leaning into a high-voltage conductor. Despite reporting the issue early in the morning, challenging terrain delayed access until late afternoon when a fire was already present at the base of the tree. CAL FIRE's response included air support dropping fire retardant and water; however, by July 18th, the fire had consumed approximately 19,000 acres.
The complaint details how another fallen tree was found leaning against PG&E’s power line near the ignition site of a smaller fire called Fly Fire on July 22nd. This smaller blaze eventually merged with the Dixie Fire two days later. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey directed Cal Fire to treat these areas as crime scenes while investigating potential criminal charges against PG&E.
Plaintiffs are seeking damages for wrongful death and negligence due to what they describe as PG&E’s "deliberate prioritization of profits over safety." They allege that despite being aware of high risks associated with their aging infrastructure—evidenced by previous wildfires like the Camp Fire—PG&E failed to take necessary precautions such as proper vegetation management or timely de-energizing exposed lines during fire-prone conditions.
The lawsuit also highlights personal tragedies endured by Teri Anastasia Trehal and Keven Robert Barra due to their son's displacement during evacuation efforts amid strict COVID-19 protocols necessitated by his immunocompromised condition from Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Unfortunately, Thorin contracted COVID-19 along with Adenovirus leading to Bilateral Viral Pneumonitis before passing away on August 8th last year at just three years old.
In addition to seeking compensatory damages for economic losses such as medical bills or funeral expenses along with non-economic damages like loss of companionship or emotional distress; plaintiffs demand punitive damages against PG&E aiming not only punishment but deterrence from future negligent conduct endangering public safety further.
Representing them are attorneys Mark Fleming Jon Cadieux Gervilyn Cadimas from Singleton Schreiber LLP while presiding over this case identified under CGC-24-617051 will be Judge [Name].