CBS Sacramento reports on a class action lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court against PG&E due to pollution from smoky skies during the northern California Dixie Fire.
In a nutshell:
Court papers show both fires sparked when a tree fell and hit a PG&E line. The lawsuit blames the fires and hazardous, smoke-filled air for lasting health impacts.
The big picture:
Federal and state prosecutors have mounted successful convictions against PG&E related to wildfires as well as gas pipeline explosions in the past. The utility filed for bankruptcy in 2015 after incurring tens of billions of dollars in damages from wildfires. As risks of extreme conditions grow with climate change, utility companies face increasing costs resulting from infrastructure that sparks fires. An emerging area of prosecution focuses on the health risks associated with wildfires.
Watch the story here.
Find out more about the health risks associated with wildfires by checking out Hilary Beaumont's story for EHN on how wildfire smoke affects pregnant people. We've also got a free guide on how wildfires impact health.
