Table of contents
- Latest Dixie Fire Lawsuit Updates
- October 2, 2025: Judge Lets PG&E Present Defenses in Smoke Class Action
- April 10, 2024: Timber Companies Sue PG&E for About $225 Million
- January 25, 2024: CPUC Approves $45 Million Penalty
- January 17, 2023: Shasta County and Nine Entities Settle with PG&E
- April 11, 2022: PG&E Settles with Five District Attorneys
- January 4, 2022: Cal Fire Announces the Cause of the Dixie Fire
- October 22, 2021: Five Counties Reported Suing PG&E
- September 15, 2021: Two Lawsuits Filed for Nearly 200 Plaintiffs
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Did PG&E Say About the Tree That Started the Dixie Fire?
- How Many Lawsuits Has PG&E Faced over the Dixie Fire?
- What Did Cal Fire Find Caused the Dixie Fire?
- How Big Was the Dixie Fire and When Was It Contained?
The Dixie Fire began on July 13, 2021 and burned 963,309 acres in California. Cal Fire announced that it started when a tree came in contact with a PG&E power line.
Homeowners, renters, business owners, timber companies, counties and residents exposed to smoke have sued PG&E over the fire. The cases allege property damage, timber losses, lost revenue, medical costs and smoke exposure. PG&E denied liability in the county settlement.
The first lawsuits were filed on September 15, 2021. The cases are in California state court, and no MDL has been formed.
Latest Dixie Fire Lawsuit Updates
October 2, 2025: Judge Lets PG&E Present Defenses in Smoke Class Action
The Daily Journal reported that a San Francisco Superior Court judge let PG&E present defenses in a putative class action over Dixie Fire smoke [1].
The plaintiffs seek medical monitoring costs for exposed residents without current illness. The same report describes larger coordinated state court proceedings over property damage. No MDL has been formed.
April 10, 2024: Timber Companies Sue PG&E for About $225 Million
The Los Angeles Times reported a suit against PG&E in San Francisco Superior Court [2]. Collins Pine Co. and six affiliated timber businesses filed it. They seek roughly $225 million for losses in the Collins Almanor Forest.
The complaint alleges PG&E failed to properly manage the forest and its electrical equipment. These are allegations in a complaint, not findings.
January 25, 2024: CPUC Approves $45 Million Penalty
The California Public Utilities Commission approved a settlement under which PG&E pays a $45 million penalty for its involvement in the Dixie Fire [3].
The penalty includes $40 million in shareholder funding for electronic records of distribution patrols and inspections. It also includes $2.5 million in fines to the California General Fund. Another $2.5 million goes in payments to tribes impacted by the fire.
January 17, 2023: Shasta County and Nine Entities Settle with PG&E
The Redding Record Searchlight reported a collective $24 million settlement between PG&E and Shasta County and nine other public entities [4]. It covers damages caused by the Dixie Fire.
The group includes five county governments, the city of Susanville, Plumas District Hospital and three local districts. PG&E denied liability and said it settled to avoid further litigation.
April 11, 2022: PG&E Settles with Five District Attorneys
PBS reported that PG&E and the district attorneys of five North State counties settled over the Dixie Fire [5]. PG&E does not admit wrongdoing in the settlement.
The PG&E SEC filing says the stipulated judgment resolves potential state criminal prosecution [6]. PG&E agreed to pay $34.75 million and accept five years of independent monitoring.
January 4, 2022: Cal Fire Announces the Cause of the Dixie Fire
Cal Fire announced that the Dixie Fire began when a tree touched an electrical line that PG&E owns and operates, CBS News reported [7].
CBS News noted that no charges were announced in the press release. The finding comes from the state fire agency. It is not a court ruling.
October 22, 2021: Five Counties Reported Suing PG&E
ABC7 reported that Plumas, Butte, Lassen, Shasta and Tehama counties are suing PG&E for lost revenues, increased expenses and destruction of infrastructure [8].
The counties’ lawsuit alleges PG&E equipment caused the fire. Those five counties later joined other public entities in the $24 million settlement with PG&E.
September 15, 2021: Two Lawsuits Filed for Nearly 200 Plaintiffs
A Business Wire release from the filing firm announced that two lawsuits were filed against PG&E on behalf of nearly 200 homeowners, renters and business owners [9].
The lawsuits allege PG&E equipment caused the Dixie Fire. One case is Fassbinder, et al. v. PG&E, Shasta County Superior Court No. 198186. These are allegations, not findings.
Who May Be Affected?
Homeowners and renters whose homes burned in the 2021 Dixie Fire may be affected. So may business owners and timber landowners. Residents exposed to heavy smoke may be affected too.
A Cal Fire report quoted in the PG&E filing counts 1,311 structures destroyed and 94 damaged. That includes 763 residential homes.
An individualized legal review of your own Dixie Fire facts is needed before anyone can say if you qualify. Another California wildfire case is on our Eaton Fire lawsuit page.
Reported Injuries or Damages
Individual plaintiffs in the first two lawsuits claim the property, income and health losses listed under Potential Compensation. These losses are allegations. They have not been proven.
The Cal Fire Investigation Report quoted in PG&E’s SEC filing records four first-responder injuries. It alleges the tree had visible signs of decay. It says a brief visual inspection should have found the decay.
The report also alleges PG&E acted negligently in its response to the first outage. PG&E disputes this and says its personnel acted reasonably.
NBC Bay Area reported that a PG&E arborist found signs of at least one rotted root at the base of the Douglas fir [10]. PG&E said the tree seemed to have a green canopy.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep records that show what you owned, what you lost and what it cost you. Useful items include:
- Photographs and video of the damage to your home, land or business
- Proof of ownership or tenancy, such as a deed or lease
- Insurance policies and all claim correspondence
- Repair estimates, receipts and invoices
- Evacuation and lodging receipts
- Medical records and notes on smoke-exposure symptoms
- Employment and business income records
- Timber, crop or equipment inventories
- Communications with PG&E and with insurers
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines for Dixie Fire claims come from state law. They differ with the type of claim and where you live. They also depend on when the loss, injury or illness happened and when it was discovered.
Letting a deadline pass can end a Dixie Fire claim, however strong the facts are. Check with a lawyer promptly. Do not wait to collect every record first.
Potential Compensation
Complaints in these cases claim several kinds of damages, including:
- Repair and replacement costs for property
- Loss of use
- Lost wages and business income
- Medical and evacuation expenses
- Timber and environmental damage
- Punitive damages and attorneys’ fees
The $45 million CPUC penalty is a penalty paid for the fire. It is not compensation to victims. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation depends on the facts of each claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Did PG&E Say About the Tree That Started the Dixie Fire?
PG&E said the tree that started the Dixie Fire was a large tree that struck one of its normally operating lines in July 2021. It said the tree was one of more than 8 million trees within strike distance of its lines.
How Many Lawsuits Has PG&E Faced over the Dixie Fire?
PG&E has faced approximately 54 complaints on behalf of at least 1,444 plaintiffs over the Dixie Fire. That count is as of October 20, 2022, from its own filing. It is not a current total.
What Did Cal Fire Find Caused the Dixie Fire?
Cal Fire found that the Dixie Fire began when a tree fell and contacted PG&E distribution lines. PG&E received the Cal Fire investigation report on June 7, 2022.
How Big Was the Dixie Fire and When Was It Contained?
The Dixie Fire was 100% contained on October 25, 2021, according to Cal Fire, after it began on July 13, 2021. The Los Angeles Times calls it the second largest fire in California history.