Zogg Fire Lawsuit

Review Your Claim With a Zogg Fire Lawyer

Potter Handy, LLP has filed suit against PG&E on behalf of over 250 Zogg fire claimants representing over 10,000 acres burned in the Zogg Fire.

After the investigation, Cal Fire said the Zogg fire was caused by a pine tree that contacted electrical distribution lines owned and operated by PG&E north of the community of Igo.

Potter Handy, LLP and local Ono attorney Mark Cibula invite you to speak with one of our experienced Zogg Fire Lawyers. We represent Zogg Fire victims in Igo, Ono, Shasta and Tehama County.

Our legal team has handled wildfire claims against (“PG&E”) Pacific Gas and Electric Company. We have a team of experts and lawyers who have been successfully handling wildfire claims for a decade.

Please call us at (415) 534-1911 or email us at FireClaims@potterhandy.com for a free consultation regarding potential claims and legal rights.

Incident Location: Zogg Mine Road and Jenny Bird Lane Igo, Shasta

The Zogg Fire started just before 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Zogg Mine Road and Jenny Bird Lane. Since then, it has burned 56,338 acres, destroyed 204 buildings, and at least four people have been killed in the blaze.

On October 9, 2020, CAL FIRE informed PG&E that they had taken possession of PG&E equipment as part of CAL FIRE’s ongoing investigation into the cause of the Zogg Fire. PG&E equipment is suspected as the cause of the Zogg Fire.

03/22/2021 (Breaking News) After the investigation, Cal Fire said the Zogg fire was caused by a pine tree that contacted electrical distribution lines owned and operated by PG&E north of the community of Igo.

*PG&E line was active when Zogg Fire started.

The following is PG&E’s timeline of events on September 27, 2020 – the day the Zogg Fire broke out.

Around 2:40 p.m., PG&E said that a Smart Meter for a home at Zogg Mine Rd and Jenny Bird Ln saw a drop in voltage and lost power.
At 2:41 p.m., there was a spike in the electrical current going through a power line serving the area. For an automatic shutoff to happen, a surge like this has to be a certain size and last for a certain length of time. In this case, the surge was strong enough but didn’t last the 20 to 25 seconds needed to trigger an automatic shutdown.
At the same time, a circuit breaker at the substation serving Zogg Mine Rd experienced a surge. It did not last long enough to cause a shutdown.
At 2:42 p.m., another surge was detected, but once again, it did not last long enough to trigger a shutdown.
At this point, smoke that could have been from the Zogg Fire was seen three miles east of Zogg Mine Road on a Firewatch camera.
At 2:43, Three Smart Meters saw a drop in power on Zogg Mine Rd. One shut down.
A weather satellite detected a heat signature in the Igo-Ono area at this point.
Between 2:44 and 2:47, there was another surge in the power line. Once again, it did not last long enough to cause a shutdown.
At 3:00 p.m., PG&E said one of its employees saw the Zogg Fire from Knighton Road in Redding and reported it to their Distribution Control Center.
At 3:06 p.m., another power surge hit the power line. This surge did last long enough to cause an automatic shutdown.

US district judge Alsup ordered PG&E to “explain its role” in potentially starting the 56,000-acre Zogg Fire that ignited on Sept. 27 and killed four people in Shasta County. Alsup demanded the explanation after PG&E revealed in a securities filing that CalFire had taken possession of its equipment as part of an investigation into the cause of the Zogg fire. PG&E’s response to that order is due on Oct. 26.

The court order PG&E was responding to also asked it to “describe the extent of trimmed and untrimmed vegetation” near Zogg Mine road.

Pacific Gas and Electric has prioritized wildfire-prevention work based on what makes it look good rather than what actually reduces risks in the highest fire-threat areas, a court-appointed monitor warned in a recent memo.

“Overall, we believe the inspections and related analyses have identified material shortcomings in PG&E’s progress, as compared to its stated goals regarding wildfire risk reduction,” independent monitor Mark Filip wrote in an Oct. 16 letter.

PG&E said it prioritizes wildfire-prevention work based on a risk model that assigns a risk score to each high fire-threat zone in its service area.

Alsup ordered PG&E to respond to the monitor’s letter by Nov. 3. (PG&E response to monitors letter)

12/29/20 The federal judge who oversees PG&E’s felony probation stated that PG&E blackouts have actually ignored the number one cause of wildfires: the dangerous trees and limbs surrounding the power company’s distribution lines. In his written order proposing additional conditions of felony probation for the company, U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup sharply rebuked the company for its wildfire management practices, and for its likely role in causing the recent Zogg Fire, writing “there are clear signs that PG&E bears responsibility” for the Zogg Fire.

Zogg Fire Lawsuit – You may be entitled to Compensation

While each case is different, common damage categories include:

Business losses
Damage to trees, timber, or underwood
Harm to pets or livestock
Emotional distress
Depreciation in the value of your land
Loss of crops
Lost wages
Personal injury
The cost to repair or replace your home and personal property
The loss of use and enjoyment of your property
Wrongful death

Partnering Firms

Ono resident and local attorney Mark Cibula has partnered with the wildfire lawyers at Potter Handy, LLP to help members of the community recover for their losses.

“Combining our local knowledge of the area with a litigation team with years of wildfire litigation experience, we are equipped to both understand your losses and fight for you.” — Mark Cibula

Zogg Fire Lawyers: (415) 534-1911 / FireClaims@potterhandy.com

Meet Your Local Zogg Fire Legal Team

Gayle Martin (Igo local and school board member for past 7 years)
Mark Cibula (Ono local and 3rd generation attorney in the area)
Mark Potter (Wildfire attorney raised in Weaverville)
Shelby Tucker (5th generation resident of Igo/Ono area)
Brett Parkinson (Wildfire attorney involved with 10 different wildfire cases)

20+ Years of Litigation – Wildfire Lawyers who have spearheaded some of the largest wildfire litigation in California.

$0 No Fee, Until We Win – If we do not collect a beneficial settlement for you at the end of your case, we do not get paid.

Our team has recovered approximately $500 million dollars for clients to compensate them for their losses.

Contact Local & Trusted Zogg Fire Lawyers

Potter Handy, LLP and local Ono attorney Mark Cibula represent plaintiffs in fire injury and damage lawsuits filed against “PG&E” Pacific Gas and Electric Company for the devastating property damage, economic losses, and disruption to homes, businesses, and livelihoods caused by recent California wildfires.

Our Zogg Fire Lawyers will seek damages on your behalf for the losses you have incurred with absolutely no out-of-pocket expenses from you.

We invite you to speak with a California wildfire lawyer, contact us at (415) 534-1911, FireClaims@potterhandy.com, or use the contact form on this page.

Learn more about Zogg Fire Lawsuit