PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to settle claims brought by the United States for damages caused by six wildfires in Oregon and California. The settlement addresses costs from fires that occurred in 2020 and 2022, including four in Oregon—the 242 Fire near Chiloquin, Archie Creek Fire in the Umpqua National Forest, Echo Mountain Complex Fire near Otis, and South Obenchain Fire east of Eagle Point—and two in California—the Slater Fire within the Klamath National Forest and McKinney Fire near the same forest.
The federal government alleged that PacifiCorp’s electrical lines negligently started all six fires. The funds from the settlement will be used to reimburse firefighting costs incurred by the United States, as well as to support restoration efforts on approximately 290,000 acres of burned public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. These recoveries are among the largest federal wildfire settlements so far.
“The United States and PacifiCorp have reached a settlement that ensures fair compensation to the American taxpayer for fire-related damages,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This agreement strikes a balance by addressing the government’s significant fire-suppression costs and loss of natural resources without preventing PacifiCorp from offering electricity at fair prices.”
“Wildfires remain a recurring threat to our natural resources, the safety of our communities, and their economic well-being. The costs of land losses and fire responses are substantial,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “Recouping the costs associated with these wildfires is a priority for our office, and this settlement achieves that.”
“This settlement served the Department’s longstanding policy of holding individuals and corporations responsible for damages caused by wildfires. Every fire impacting federal lands, no matter the size, is a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California.
The case was handled jointly by attorneys from both states’ U.S. Attorney’s Offices alongside staff from federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior.
Scott Bradford has previously held roles including Chief of the White Collar Unit before becoming U.S. Attorney for Oregon (official website). The office also participates in community outreach efforts across Oregon (official website) and operates locations in Portland, Eugene, and Medford (official website). As one among 93 such offices nationwide under the Department of Justice (official website), it employs over 100 staff members (official website) who represent civil or criminal cases while seeking to foster trust in federal courts (official website).
According to officials involved with this agreement, these claims were allegations only; there has been no determination or admission of liability on PacifiCorp’s part.
PacifiCorp continues to deny any liability regarding these fires.
