PG&E equipment may be linked to 30,000-acre wildfire in the Sierras

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A major wildfire burning in the Sierras may have sparked from Pacific Gas & Electric equipment, the utility said.

In a filing on Sunday, PG&E said a repair man who responded to a circuit outage on July 13 "spotted blown fuses in a conductor atop a pole, a tree leaning into the conductor and fire at the base of the tree," The Associated Press reports.

3 homes damaged by huge Oakland fire, power outage impacts hundreds

The Dixie Fire is reported to be 30,074 acres as of Monday morning, exploding from about 18,000 acres just a day prior. Cal Fire said the wildfire burned to the east and north overnight, burning in remote areas with limited access and steep terrain.

#DixieFire off Above the Cresta Dam, Feather River Canyon in Butte County is 30,074 acres and 15% contained. Unified Command: @CALFIRE_ButteCo and @LassenNF
https://t.co/vMYsruB5cn pic.twitter.com/iBbEi5fdrr

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 19, 2021

The fire has caused officials to close a part of State Route 70. It's burning just northeast of the town of Paradise, California and is 15% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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