The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and state utility regulators investigated Pacific Gas and Electric Company ( PG&E ) to determine if they complied with state laws in the areas burned in the fire . The '' Associated Press '' noted the fire started near a property where PG&E detected sparks on the day before its outbreak . PG&E is a convicted felon due to a gas pipeline explosion in 2010 and is on probation which means penalties for subsequent crimes are enhanced . PG&E also reported damage to the Caribou-Palermo transmission line 15 minutes before flames were first reported under the wires ; the same line was previously damaged in a windstorm in December 2012
pipeline explosion in 2010
San Bruno pipeline explosion
Camp Fire (2018)