“Paradise News

California City Didn’t Burn but Fire Brought New Way of Life

CHICO, Calif. — Amber Blood got to Chico on Nov. 8, 2018, wearing pink slacks and her favorite white peacoat. It was all she had left. Blood was among tens of thousands forced to flee as a wildfire roared through …

As Paradise Rebuilds, a Divide Over Safety a Year After Fire

PARADISE, Calif. — There was “no way in hell” Victoria Sinclaire was rebuilding in Paradise. She’d thought she was going to die during the six hours it took her to escape the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. …

Fire Threat Brings Power Cuts to Thousands in California

SAN FRANCISCO — Tens of thousands of Northern Californians will find themselves without electricity Wednesday as Pacific Gas & Electric cuts power to reduce the threat of hot, dry, gusty weather knocking down power lines and sparking wildfires. The utility …

California Insurers Drop Policies in High-Fire Risk Areas

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — New California data shows insurance companies declined to renew nearly 350,000 home insurance policies in areas at high risk for wildfire since the state began collecting data in 2015. The data released this week did not say …

Wildfire Acreage Way Down in California this Year – So Far

LOS ANGELES — California is not burning. At least not as much as it has in recent years. Acreage burned through Sunday is down 90% compared to the average over the past five years and down 95% from last year, …

Moody’s Says Wildfire Catastrophe Losses the New Normal in Calif.

California had long been a good bet for homeowners’ insurers, with most carriers having no problem recouping paid losses through premiums. But in 2017 and 2018, the state experienced six of the 10 most destructive wildfires in its history and …

PG&E Disagrees With WSJ Story Over Power Line Upgrades

PG&E Corp. told a judge it “strongly disagrees” with a Wall Street Journal storysuggesting that the utility knew its equipment near the ignition point of California’s deadliest wildfire badly needed upgrades and nonetheless deferred maintenance. The company’s response, filed Wednesday, …

PG&E Judge Demands Response to WSJ Report on Faulty Lines

PG&E Corp. was ordered by a federal judge overseeing its probation to respond to a Wall Street Journal story claiming the utility knew its power lines could cause wildfires and failed to perform upgrades. PG&E “must provide a fresh, forthright …

Travelers Bulks Up Wildfire Protection After Deadly 2018 Blazes

Travelers Cos. is strengthening its wildfire-defense efforts after deadly blazes swept through California last year. The insurer is adding a service to all of its California home and landlord policies, helping customers prepare their property for a fire by different …

PG&E Lines Tied to Deadliest California Fire in State Report

California investigators have determined that PG&E Corp.’s power lines ignited the deadliest blaze in state history, opening the door for more liabilities that the company has already warned may exceed $30 billion. A transmission line owned by PG&E sparked the …