MCKINNEY FIRE LAWSUITS

Recovering Damages After a California Wildfire

Robins Cloud LLP is currently reviewing potential claims from victims who suffered losses because of the McKinney Fire. Although the fire is still under investigation, radio dispatches suggest that a problematic power line circuit owned by Pacific Power may have caused the blaze.

If you or your loved one were injured or killed in the McKinney Fire, or if you suffered damage to your home or business, you may have grounds to pursue financial compensation from Pacific Power or other responsible parties – even if you have already received payment from your insurance carrier.

Robins Cloud LLP is comprised of award-winning trial lawyers recognized as leaders in California wildfire litigation. Our McKinney Fire attorneys are available to speak with families, homeowners, and business owners about legal options during a FREE consultation. Call (310) 307-3955 to speak with a lawyer.

McKinney Fire Damage

Since it began on July 29, 2022, the McKinney Fire has become California’s largest and deadliest wildfire of the year.

Propelled by severe thunderstorm winds, it has burned over 62,000 acres in the Klamath National Forest in Northern California, destroyed more than 100 homes and structures, and killed at least five victims – including a Buckhorn-Bally fire lookout and several residents in the town of Klamath River along State Route 96 in Siskiyou County.

Utility Power Line Under Investigation

Radio dispatches from responders to the McKinney Fire have revealed that the fire started under a power line circuit that had been experiencing problems just hours before the fire broke out. According to dispatches reviewed by NBC Bay Area, responders were called to what was described as a half-acre vegetation fire located “underneath the power line right of way.”

The power line circuit in question, the Scott Bar 12,000-volt distribution line, is operated by Pacific Power. The utility’s parent company, PacifiCorp, has stated that power went out for roughly 300 customers served by the Scott Bar circuit at 9:00pm on July 28^th and was restored at 5:00am on July 29^th, the day the McKinney Fire began. The company said it patrolled the entire course of the line but was unable to determine the cause of the outage.

As reported by local media, homeowners in the area now wonder whether the power outage and fire could be connected. One local resident who narrowly escaped the fire with his family also believes the power line, which was located next to his neighbor’s property and has since been taped off by officials, could have played a role.

Pacific Power and PacifiCorp have not commented on any investigation of its equipment, noting that: “Our understanding is the cause of the McKinney Fire remains under investigation and we continue to work with first responders in affected communities.”

Robins Cloud LLP is known nationally for representing wildfire victims in complex litigation against utilities and insurance carriers. We have handled some of California’s largest wildfire cases and have recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for our clients.

To speak with an attorney about your options for recovering losses caused by the McKinney Fire, call (310) 307-3955 or contact us online.

Legal Support for McKinney Fire Victims

While the McKinney Fire is still under investigation, reports about the location of the fire’s origins and the work being performed on the power line the evening and morning before the fire erupted show that it’s reasonable to look further into whether utility company equipment may be involved.

As our attorneys at Robins Cloud LLP know from representing victims in California wildfire lawsuits, utility companies can be held liable for damages when their equipment and / or negligence are to blame. Still, formal investigations will be necessary before any conclusions can be made.

As we continue to investigate the underlying cause of this tragic fire, our attorneys at Robins Cloud LLP are now speaking with property owners and victims looking for information about their options to recover their losses. These options may include:

• Inverse-condemnation claims, which entitle property owners to compensation for property damages or destroyed by a public use.
• Negligence lawsuits, which allow for a financial recovery of damages from at-fault utilities.
• Personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits to recover economic and non-economic losses.
• Insurance claims or bad faith litigation over unfair denials or delays of claims for covered losses

Robins Cloud LLP is known nationally for representing wildfire victims in complex litigation against utilities and insurance carriers. We have handled some of California’s largest wildfire cases and have recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for our clients.

To speak with an attorney about your options for recovering losses caused by the McKinney Fire, call (310) 307-3955 or contact us online.