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Dixie Fire Investigation

If you lost your home or business to the Dixie Fire, call us now to discuss how to secure your legal right to financial recovery.

In what is now declared the third largest fire in California history, the Dixie Fire has consumed 771,183 acres (1204 square miles). Tragically, it devastated the historic town of Greenville in one night and burned over half of Lassen Volcanic National Park. It has been burning for 48 days and is only 48% contained at the time of this writing. 

Dixie Fire Zone of Danger

The Dixie Fire is active in Lassen Volcanic National Park and in five counties: Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama. It continues to burn through Plumas National Forest and Lassen National Forest.  

The following areas are currently under evacuation orders:

• Areas north from Highway 36 to the county line, including Mill Creek
• South of highway 36 to the Plateau along Mill Creek
• East of the Mill Creek Plateau to the county line dividing Butte and Plumas Counties
• The Highway 32 Corridor to the Butte County line
• North of Lake Davis from the intersection of Beckwourth-Taylorsville Road and the
  Bagley pass Road
• All sides of Lake Davis, and north of Lake Davis Road to Gate Place
• Highway 70 at the east side of Lee Summit, east to the area of Highway 70 and Mohawk Vista
  West entrance and everything north of those locations to the area of Happy Valley and
  the south boundary of Zone 33
• North side of Delleker
• Highway 70 at Willow Creek Rd, east to Highway 70 at West Street (Portola) and heading north all the way to Smith Peak
• North side of Highway 70 from Mohawk Vista Drive west entrance, east to Highway 70 at Willow Creek Road, north to Smith Peak and Five Points, and the area of Mohawk Vista
• North side of Delleker
• Highway 70 at Willow Creek Rd, east to Highway 70 at West Street (Portola) and north to Smith Peak
• Beckwourth-Genesee Road at USFS road 23N53, north to Zone 7
• From Crocker Mountain east toward reconnaissance Peak
• North side of Beckwourth. North side of Highway 70 from County Road A23, east to County Road A24 and north to Table Rock
• North side of Portola
• Highway 70 at West Street east to Highway 70 at A23 (Beckwourth-Calpine Road) and north to the southern edge of 35-B (south of Lake Davis)

Dixie Fire Containment Strategy

Fire officials are managing the fire in two cooperative zones: West and East, and implementing a “full suppression strategy.” This strategy employs as many resources as possible, including retardant drops, air operations, bulldozers, buffering dozer lines with handlines, using heavy equipment to clear roads and trails for firefighting, burnout operations, and direct control lines on the fire’s edge. 

Today officials deployed approximately 200 soldiers from the Army’s 23rd Brigade Engineer Battalion and the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade, who were training in Washington, to support firefighting efforts in Lassen and Plumas National Forests. 

Did PG&E cause the Dixie Fire?

While the cause of the Dixie Fire remains under investigation, PG&E already admitted that their equipment could have played a role. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey also stated his belief that PG&E’s equipment contributed to the blaze.

We will be actively investigating the cause of the fire, and if PG&E is found liable, we will be filing suit against them for this catastrophe.

What should I do if my home or business was destroyed by the Dixie Fire?

If you lost a home or business, or if you suffered property damage due to the fire, once you have secured your basic necessities, you should talk to an attorney as soon as possible. Not only will a lawyer help protect your legal rights to compensation, but a good attorney will provide you guidance through the long road ahead. He or she will help you find what resources are available to help you get on your feet as quickly as possible. An attorney with experience dealing with insurance companies will also be extremely helpful in filing your homeowner’s insurance claim and dealing with insurance representatives. 

What do I do if my insurance won’t pay enough to repair or rebuild my home?

Unfortunately, most wildfire victims soon realize that their insurance policy does not provide enough coverage to compensate them fully for all of their damages. Damage to fencing structures, irrigation systems, and expensive landscaping could very well not be covered by many insurance policies. Additionally, the cost of rebuilding a home in today’s market may far exceed the amount of coverage a homeowner’s policy provides. If the utility company is found to be liable for the wildfire, they must pay wildfire victims for the destruction their negligence caused. Filing a lawsuit against them can help provide the compensation necessary to put your life back in order.

If your insurance company is not honoring your policy, you may need to seek help in forcing their hand. Your insurance company is obligated to not only pay your valid claim in accordance with your policy, but it also must pay it promptly. Your insurance company has certain responsibilities, which include a prompt and thorough investigation of your claim, an honest assessment of your claim, and they must seek evidence of coverage that supports your claim. If your insurance company is refusing to pay your valid claim, we encourage you to call us for a consultation.

Can I sue PG&E for my losses in the Dixie Fire?

If it is determined that PG&E is in fact liable for the Dixie Fire, you can and should sue for your losses. If PG&E is even partially responsible, you have the right to recover money as compensation for your damages, such as:

• Wrongful death;
• Bodily Injury;
• Damage to a home and/or adjacent structures;
• Damage to personal property;
• Damage to a commercial use structure;
• Damage or loss of agricultural property and products; and
• Loss of business or agricultural income.

I was only renting at the time of the fire, but I lost everything. Can I sue PG&E to recover what I lost?

Yes. Renters who lost their belongings to the fire are eligible to sue for their losses.

With all of PG&E’s lawsuits, how much money will be available to compensate victims of the Dixie Fire?

Regardless of the number of lawsuits PG&E has faced, if they are found liable for the Dixie Fire, they will be held accountable for the losses suffered by Dixie Fire victims. It’s important to remember that the utility giant continues to charge consumers, collecting revenues every month and even raising rates to cover their debts. One way or another, PG&E will compensate victims of the wildfires they have caused.

The amount of compensation you will receive, however, varies according to numerous factors. An experienced wildfire lawyer will help you understand those factors and get a better feel for what you may be eligible to claim in a wildfire lawsuit.

Who needs the help of a wildfire lawyer?

• Family members who lost loved ones to the fire.
• Homeowners who suffered fire or severe smoke damage.
• Landowners who suffered property damage.
• Business owners whose businesses were impacted in any way.
• Renters who lost belongings or suffered fire damage.
• Anyone who sustained any personal injuries due to the fires.
• Anyone in the zone of danger who was forced to flee the fires.

Why does a wildfire victim need the help of a wildfire lawyer now?

If the fire victim has insurance:

• A lawyer will help a person put his or her best foot forward in making his or her insurance claim.
• Insurance only causes a small part of the losses.
• Insurance companies often don’t pay the full amount of what they owe their insured.
• If the utility company is found liable, most losses will be recovered from the utility company and its contractors.
• IF WE REPRESENT YOU, WE WILL NOT TAKE A FEE ON ANY MONEY THAT YOU RECOVER FROM YOUR OWN INSURANCE COMPANY.

If the fire victim does not have insurance:

• All of the losses will need to be recovered from the power company and its contractors.

I am well insured and don’t want to have to pay a lawyer’s fees to recover insurance money that is rightfully mine. What can a lawyer do for me that my insurance won’t do?

First of all, we DO NOT TAKE ANY FEES ON MONEY RECOVERED FROM YOUR OWN INSURANCE COMPANY. Secondly, regardless of how well your insurance coverage may appear, almost all insurance policies do not cover the trees and foliage on your property, nor will they compensate you for the trauma you may have experienced fleeing the fire. Beyond that, most insurance companies seek to find any reason to underpay their policyholders. If you hire us to pursue a wildfire claim against PG&E, we will assist you in navigating the insurance claim process, with no strings attached. And we will pursue the maximum amount possible to recover all of your damages—damages to fencing structures, irrigation systems, landscaping, emotional distress, income losses, and more—from PG&E and its contractors.

What makes Eric Ratinoff Law Corp different from other wildfire lawyers?

Eric Ratinoff Law Corp has fought and won countless battles against utility companies, corporations, and insurance companies. We have the experience, reputation, resources, and results to help you get the maximum compensation possible. We do not combine our cases in bulk, like most other lawyers do. We are not class action lawyers. We will handle each client’s claim the way it deserves to be handled—individually. Every client has a unique story that we will find and tell.

We have represented thousands of home, business and property owners who lost everything to preventable wildfires caused by negligent power companies. Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars on their behalf. We have represented wildfire victims in some of the largest wildfires in California, including:

• The 2015 Butte Fire
• The 2017 North Bay Fire Complex
• The 2018 Camp Fire
• The 2019 Kincade Fire
• The 2020 Mountain View Fire

We always strive to maintain our long reputation of providing superior legal representation and unsurpassed client service. Please contact us at 916-970-9100 to discuss any questions you may have.

We look forward to working with you.