Lawsuit filed against PG&E for Capitola Christmas Day explosion

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) -- A new lawsuit has been filed against PG&E by those affected by a gas explosion on Christmas Day 2024.

The suit, filed by Kershaw Talley Barlow, is in response to a gas explosion that damaged a two-story residential building and a restaurant in Capitola Village.

A fire before the explosion broke out around 6 a.m. Christmas morning leaving residents displaced.

The complaint claims the explosion was caused by electrical overheating from PG&E's wiring that melted into a nearby gas service line in an underground trench.

Another claim states that the gas escaped for almost two hours before igniting.

Bill Kershaw said the situation was "an entirely preventable disaster" saying that the community deserves answers.

PG&E sent the following statement to KION about the lawsuit:

"We are aware of existing lawsuits regarding this incident. Safety remains our most important responsibility, and we are confident in the safety of the local gas system. We are currently conducting work in the area to expose and replace some facilities as an additional layer of protection for the community. We also have initiated two investigations to understand what factors contributed to this safety incident—an evaluation conducted by a specialized team within PG&E and an investigation conducted by an independent third-party engineering firm, Exponent.“

The lawsuit is filed on behalf of residents and business owners affected by the explosion.