China News Service, June 17 (Xinhua) reported that on the 16th local time, the US Pacific Natural Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) pleaded guilty to the most destructive "Camp" wildfire in California in 2018. The wildfire destroyed Paradise Town in Northern California in November 2018 and claimed the lives of more than 80 people.
Data Map: Paradise Town, California, which was burnt by the wildfire.
According to reports, Bill Johnson, PG&E CEO, represented the company and pleaded guilty to 84 unintentional homicides caused by a fire. The fire was caused by a short circuit in the company's power supply system and caused a wildfire. Johnson also represented the company and pleaded guilty to a felony that caused an illegal fire.
"Our equipment caused a fire." Johnson directly apologized to the families of the victims. "PG&E will never forget the "Kamp" fire and everything it took away from the area."
Data Map: Staff and corpse seekers search for human remains in a community destroyed by fire in Paradise Town, California, USA.
At the court hearing, Butte County High Court Judge Michael Deems also read out the names of each victim aloud, and the large screen showed pictures of the deceased. At the same time, Johnson pleaded guilty to each count. The fire killed 85 people, but prosecutors are not sure if they can prove that PG&E is responsible for one of the dead.
The report said that PG&E has agreed to pay a fine of up to $3.5 million for its criminal conduct and an investigation fee of $500,000. The report said that the judge will make a formal judgment on PG&E on June 18 or 19.
According to previous reports, the deadliest fire in California’s history has burned most areas including Paradise Town in Northern California. The area of the fire has reached tens of thousands of hectares, burning 13,900 houses and killing 85 people. The cause of the fire was caused by a short circuit in the power supply system under the jurisdiction of PG&E and a wildfire.