Federal judge blames PG&E uninsulated wires for wildfires

A federal judge says PG&E’s uninsulated power conductors may be to blame for California’s deadly wildfires over the past two years.

CBS’ Sacramento affiliate reports that U.S District Judge William Alsup made the tentative decision in part to push a PG&E equipment inspection and tree-pruning program.

Court documents say that it tentatively found that the most common cause of the 2017 and 2018 wildfires go back to PG&E’s equipment and the susceptability of its lines to falling limbs and trees.

The company issued a statement saying, “We are committed to complying with all rules and regulations that apply to our work while working together with our state and community partners…”

CBS Sacramento says that PG&E will discuss the findings at a hearing on January 30.