Power company sued over the start of the McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County

A lawsuit has been filed against PacifiCorp alleging the utility started the McKinney Fire. The lawyers who filed the suit say the fire was started by poorly maintained infrastructure.

The suit claims PacifiCorp is responsible for the deaths of the plaintiffs' loved ones, property damage, serious out-of-pocket expenses for those impacted by the fires, evacuation expenses, medical bills, loss of business income, and more.

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The complaint was filed on behalf of hundreds of individuals who owned property in and near Siskiyou County.

"To date, four people have lost their lives in a fire that was entirely avoidable," said Gerald Singleton, Managing Partner of Singleton Schreiber. "Every fire season, California is overrun by deaths, injuries, financial disasters, charred homes and ruined lives as a result of utilities such as PacifiCorp putting profits over safety. This is the second time in the last two years that PacifiCorp has started a fire that killed citizens of Siskiyou County."

The McKinney Fire has burned 60,392 acres and is 95% contained. According to the Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services, at least 185 structures have been destroyed and 118 have been damaged.

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According to the complaint, PacifiCorp's infrastructure caused sparks that ignited dry vegetation and debris. Severe thunderstorms slowed the fire's growth due to heavy rain but brought upon mudslides and triggered floods in parts of the burn scar. Because it was PacifiCorp's responsibility to manage these utility lines, easements and other right of way issues, PacifiCorp is accused of completely failing in its obligation to maintain its equipment.

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"The people who lived in the area in and around the McKinney Fire had their lives changed forever, PacifiCorp owes it to them to make this right," said attorney Christopher R. Rodriguez. "This lawsuit cannot bring back loved ones, but it can hold this utility accountable for its own failure to meet basic safety standards."

This case has been filed in Sacramento Superior Court.