Dixie Fire Legal Team
Come Meet Our Local Staff – Nizhoni O’Connell, Sofia O’Connell, Cody Lacrue and Will Meyers. Allison Jenkins, Jenny Macias, Destiny Bloxham, Lacy Priore, Mark Potter, Brett Parkinson and Bret Cook. Karisa Joseph, Sutter Rogers, Taylor Rogers, Veronica Garcia and Toni Hymas. Not pictured: Wendy Weight, Lani Greiman and Sheila Stolden.

Dixie Fire Lawyers in Northern California

Potter Handy Parkinson & Benson ™ and The Law Office of Bret D. Cook, PC.

BREAKING NEWS: PG&E equipment is blamed for starting the Dixie Fire in Northern California.


Join the 500+ Dixie Fire Victims We Represent!

Potter Handy, LLP and the Law Office of Bret D. Cook, PC invite you to speak with one of our experienced Dixie Fire Lawyers regarding potential claims and legal rights.

Please call us at (415) 534-1911 or email us at DixieFire@PotterHandy.com for a free consultation.

Dixie Fire Lawyers can help you find the answers to your questions and take your first step towards getting compensated.

Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss your legal rights and potential claims against PG&E.

(415) 534-1911 | No Recovery, No Fee!


Local Greenville attorney and Dixie Fire victim, Bret Cook, has partnered with Potter Handy, LLP to represent other victims of the Dixie Fire in their claims against PG&E.

Dixie Fire Lawyers
Greenville attorney Bret D. Cook, standing, addresses the crowd that filled the Quincy library meeting room on Tuesday, Aug. 17. His law office and home burned in Greenville, so he has joined with the law firm (Potter Handy, LLP) to help represent Greenville residents. Photo by Meg Upton

Bret D. Cook has a varied civil practice in Greenville, California focused on the unique needs of the individuals, families and small businesses in Plumas County. He has extensive experience in business, real estate and liability claims.

“I had the opportunity to associate with several firms but wanted the right fit for my friends and neighbors in Indian Valley. My decision to partner with Potter Handy, LLP was based on their personal approach to each and every client and the experience and resources the firm brings to the table.” – Bret D. Cook


Dixie Fire in Butte, Plumas, Tehama, Lassen, and Shasta.

The Dixie Fire ignited on July 13, 2021, in the Feather River Canyon area above the Cresta Dam, according to John Gaddie, a fire captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Butte County unit.

What Caused the Dixie Fire?

The Dixie Fire, the second-largest wildfire in California’s history, was sparked when power lines owned by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) came into contact with a tree, fire officials said.


Timeline

July 13, 2021 – PG&E said a utility repairman noticed damage to fuses on a power line on July 13 after the company’s outage system indicated that Cresta Dam off of Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon had lost power.

“The responding PG&E troubleman observed from a distance what he thought was a blown fuse on the PG&E Bucks Creek 1101 12kV Overhead Distribution Circuit uphill from his location,” the utility said in an electric incident report with the California Public Utilities Commission.

“Due to the challenging terrain and road work resulting in a bridge closure, he was not able to reach the pole with the fuse until approximately 1640 hours. There he observed two of three fuses blown and what appeared to him to be a healthy green tree leaning into the Bucks Creek 1101 12kV conductor, which was still intact and suspended on the poles.”

July 18, 2021 – PG&E filed an Electric Incident Report (EIR) with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regarding the Dixie Fire in Butte and Plumas counties. The information PG&E submitted is preliminary, and the company submitted this report in an abundance of caution given CAL FIRE’s collection of PG&E facilities in connection with its investigation. PG&E is cooperating with CAL FIRE’s investigation.”

On July 18, 2021, CAL FIRE investigators collected the following PG&E equipment: portions of the Bucks Creek 1101 12kV line, including conductor, jumpers, insulators, and fuse cutouts, as well as portions of the tree.

January 4, 2022 – BREAKING NEWS: PG&E equipment is blamed for starting the Dixie Fire in Northern California.


Court Testimony from PG&E’s Troubleman before Judge Alsup

PG&E radio audio files that have been submitted to the federal court regarding the Dixie fire.


Dixie Fire Claims – Compensation You Can Seek

Dixie Fire victims are homeowners, renters, business owners, and other individuals and entities whose property and lives were, literally and figuratively, destroyed by the Dixie Fire.

While each case is different, common damage categories include:

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

If PG&E is found to be responsible for causing the fire, you may be entitled to damages that your insurance – even good insurance — won’t cover. In addition to underinsured homes, most insurance policies don’t cover vegetation that is not part of the landscaping, natural vegetation or compensation for you or your family for the upheaval caused by the Dixie Fire. The law provides for more compensation than most people realize.

When our Dixie Fire Lawyers take on a case, we are consciously thorough in our investigations. We must be sure that we have identified all of your damages and accurately calculated them.

We will not be satisfied with a case outcome unless you get every last penny you deserve from the parties responsible for the destructive Dixie Fire. Call us (415) 534-1911


Review Your Claim with a Dixie Fire Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a utility-company-related wildfire, we will seek damages on your behalf for the losses you have incurred with absolutely no out-of-pocket expenses from you.

Potter Handy, LLP represents plaintiffs in fire injury and damage claims filed against negligent parties for the devastating property damage, economic losses, and disruption to homes, businesses, and livelihoods caused by recent California wildfires.

If you would like to speak with one of our Dixie Fire Lawyers, call us at (415) 534-1911 or use the contact form on this page.