Wildfire Lawyer Serving Butte County, CA

Too often, California utility companies cut corners, which costs thousands of people peace of mind and sometimes their livelihood. If you have suffered damages in a wildfire, the California utility fire attorneys of Danko Meredith will not be intimidated. 

A wildfire lawyer serving Butte County will help you fight for justice and hold utility companies accountable for the damage they do. California wildfires are dangerous and unpredictable enough without people and companies adding to the problem.

Danko Meredith is Experienced in Litigation Against California Utility Companies

At Danko Meredith, we understand that you may be coming to us during one of your most vulnerable moments. You may have been forced to leave your home with minimal notice to come back and find it gone or uninhabitable. Our wildfire lawyers in Butte County, CA, have the experience necessary to connect you with the appropriate referrals and resources to get you on your feet while also providing exceptional legal representation. 

Our firm is committed to holding negligent parties responsible because, for many, that is the only way they will change their behavior. We take our role seriously because we know that we are not only fighting for your rights to compensation for injuries but also giving critical pushback that may prevent the same fate for other Butte County residents. 

We Know Utility Wildfire Litigation

Beyond our commitment to client support and satisfaction, we have an established track record of taking on California utility companies like Southern California Edison (SCE) or Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). In fact, attorney Mike Danko has taken on PG&E in lawsuits for more than 30 years. 

Our experience in wildfire litigation has led us to work cases across California, nationally, and, in some cases, globally. Some of these include litigating cases regarding the Dixie Fire, Butte Fire, and San Bruno gas line explosion, as well as the Maui wildfires in 2023. In many of these cases, we walked away with favorable rulings and millions of dollars for our clients. 

Contingency

Our values as a law firm lead us to speak up and fight for those who may not have the money to throw at a utility fire lawyer until the problem goes away. We know that finances are often a barrier for people seeking help, and this is one of the many reasons we provide services on contingency. 

This fee model means you will not be on the hook for exorbitant hourly rates, but pay an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation awarded when we win your case. 

Notable Fires in Butte County

According to records, Butte County experienced numerous fires. The Cal Fire incident archives show more than 15 fires affected Butte County in the most recent reporting year. Though many of them were relatively small, affecting fewer than 100 acres, thousands of Butte County residents were adversely affected by the negligence of others. 

Many of these fires were the result of reckless and negligent behavior. Regarding those resulting from California utility companies, our wildfire attorneys in Butte County, CA, work tirelessly to identify the responsible parties and seek the compensation our clients deserve. 

Park Fire

In July of 2024, Ronnie Dean Stoud was arrested on arson charges for pushing a burning vehicle into a gulley in Upper Bidwell Park. This started the fire that burned through December. According to Cal Fire records, the Park Fire engulfed nearly 100 homes and almost 500,000 acres across two California Counties. 

Thompson Fire 

The Thompson fire was among the three largest to affect the Sacramento area in 2024, covering 3,789 acres. News outlet KCRA reported that the fire was also started by Arson when a man threw fireworks from his car window. Spencer Grant Anderson reports he was “testing” the fireworks after purchasing them earlier that day. The fire destroyed 13 homes and forced thousands of residents to evacuate for several days. 

Junes Fire 

The Junes Fire was relatively small in that it was fully contained within three days and covered just over 1,000 acres of land in Butte County. Early in the response, Cal Fire issued evacuation orders that they later lifted. In a report by KRCTV, the fire destroyed two structures, and Cal Fire reports there were no fatalities. 

Danko Meredith and PG&E Lawsuits

PG&E has been the target of many lawsuits over the last several decades. The San Bruno explosion in 2010 caused eight fatalities, more than 50 hospitalizations, and the destruction of more than 35 structures. In 2024, PG&E lines melted into gas lines, causing a fire and explosion on Christmas morning. In early 2025, a PG&E-affiliated power plant exploded. 

This pattern of negligent safety procedures shows an abhorrent lack of value in our community. Our case results are full of successful cases against the utility company. PG&E and other large corporations know our name, and they know that we will fight for nothing less than justice for our clients injured by their negligence. 

Other Utility Wildfire Concerns

Other problems we encounter while litigating utility wildfire cases may not be due to the utility companies responsible for starting fires, but inadequate safety procedures may exacerbate problems. Examples of this include a company’s failure to shut off power lines in the event of a wildfire. This can be an additional ignition source if the poles are damaged and felled or if a tree falls on them, causing a spark and catching fire. 

Butte County Fire Severity Risk 

The Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM) publishes maps that designate fire hazard safety zones. For the wildfire season 2025, Butte County is considered a very high risk. According to the OSFM, these designations are created based on scientific factors like vegetation density, previous fires, predicted flame height, or typical fire weather for that area. 

Predicting the occurrence of wildfires is an impossible task, but these risk categories provide important information that should affect how we prepare as individuals and certainly California utility companies. Our utility fire lawyers in Butte County, CA, are prepared to face these companies in the aftermath of injuries if their continued negligent practices ignite another fire or facilitate unnecessary spread. 

Danko Meredith Understands that Many Factors Influence the Severity and Destruction of Wildfires

Wildfire season is commonly considered to be between the months of May and October or November, depending on location. In recent years, however, Butte County has seen more wildfires year-round, and this may be attributed to several things:

• Human negligence, from throwing fireworks out of the car window 
• Corporate shortcuts leading to ignition sources in an environment primed to facilitate wildfire spread
• Lightning strikes 
• Poorly managed vegetation 
• Dry conditions
• Wind 

In addition to the above causes, funding, staffing, and water management issues may leave firefighters unable to adequately control and contain the fires, allowing continued spread and devastation. Other considerations that may allow faster spread include homeowners, builders, and companies that fail to use fire-resistant materials in construction and maintenance. 

Supporting Your Claim for Utility Wildfire Damages

Civil litigation can take months or years to resolve, meaning your first course of action to get your life back on track may be utilizing your own homeowners’ insurance or health insurance. Depending on your circumstances, you may have recourse from other sources that a utility fire attorney in Butte County, CA, could direct you toward. 

Regardless, the evidence and documentation you may need to provide for a lawsuit are often similar to requirements for an insurance claim, allowing you to prepare concurrently. Most of what you need is documentation that supports the cost of your property damage, displacement, and the validity of your medical treatment for injuries.  

Prepare Early

Due to the high fire risk in Butte County, it is important to be prepared for wildfire, which means proactively gathering important documents and your insurance policy information. Some of the documents to be prepared may include:

• Photos of the property inside and outside
• Photos of valuable belongings 
• Inventory list of valuable or sentimental items 
• Receipts or invoices for large purchases or renovations 

For most insurance providers, you have the option to call or begin your claim online or through their app. Generally speaking, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, many homeowner’s insurance policies provide fire policies. However, this is often an add-on policy and not included in your general coverage. 

Get Estimates 

Unless the damage leaves your home as a total loss, your insurance company will typically pay your claim based on the cost of repairing the damages. They may provide you with a list of approved contractors to contact, or you may choose your own to determine if they will accept payment through insurance, but obtaining quotes or estimates is a critical step to getting your life back up and running. 

In a lawsuit, you may still need to present the invoices as evidence of the expense or cost of damage done. However, this may be added to the damages you request.

Keep Invoices and Receipts

If you are displaced from your home while waiting for repairs, you may be eligible for additional compensation. Many policies provide Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage, which includes the costs of a hotel or expenses that exceed your normal amount due to fire damage and displacement. 

This coverage is meant to be supplementary to your standard expenses, so it may cover reasonable costs for purchasing meals if your temporary housing lacks a kitchen or the cost of temporary housing, but you are still responsible for your typical food costs and mortgage. If you do not have ALS coverage, these costs may still be recovered in your lawsuit. 

How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Case?

In the aftermath of disasters like wildfires, many resources are inundated with needs they are struggling to fulfill, which may cause longer delays than normal to complete estimates or schedule court dates. The average timeline of a personal injury lawsuit in California can be difficult to determine because several other factors may contribute to how long it takes to resolve your situation. 

Prompt Document Submission

Completing paperwork promptly and accurately is critical to keeping your case moving. Missing deadlines or small errors in documents can cause unnecessary delays and may lose the case in some situations. 

Our utility fire attorneys have the experience necessary to prepare and file the necessary paperwork appropriately. Additionally, they may suggest keeping a folder with your important documents to make it easy to send over. 

Repair Time

Much like other personal injury cases that advise you to finish medical treatment before agreeing to a settlement offer, an attorney may suggest you complete all estimates and repairs before they begin negotiations. This can prevent unexpected expenses that are not accounted for in your compensation amount.

Value of the Claim

Your homeowners’ insurance policy and the utility company’s attorneys both have a goal of paying out as little as possible. This means that the higher your claim value is, the more likely they are to push back, scrutinize, and diminish the cost of your injuries. This is common practice but certainly a consideration, especially when we handle claims for millions of dollars. 

Strength of Evidence

The strength of your case can dramatically affect the duration of negotiations. If the utility company attorneys are not taking you seriously or do not feel you have strong evidence, they may be more likely to stay conservative with negotiations. This is often an attempt to call your bluff about committing to making your case to the judge.

However, they are often more motivated to take you seriously and more concerned about losing in court when you are strongly represented and show strong evidence for your case. 

Settling Out of Court

Many personal injury cases will settle before seeing a courtroom. Taking a case in front of a judge can open up a wide range of possibilities beyond the utility company’s control, and the process is much more time-intensive and costly. This risk provides excellent motivation to take our clients seriously. 

However, if the opposing party fails to offer a fair settlement amount or agreement, taking them to court will add additional time to resolve the case. Negotiations may continue for the duration of the process up to the verdict from the judge.

Wildfires in Butte County Affect More Than Just Property

Wildfires have lasting consequences in almost every way. They destroy resources, pollute the air, contribute to health problems, traumatize communities, and damage property. Some of the more common adverse effects wildfires have on our clients include:

• Respiratory illnesses
• Burn injuries
• Carcinogen exposure
• Bronchitis 
• Exacerbation of Asthma symptoms
• Illnesses relating to toxic fumes
• PTSD

In addition to the increased risk of many health conditions, wildfires claim many lives each year, leaving families to struggle through an already difficult time while also carrying grief for a loved one. 

Danko Meredith Can Help You Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

When you work with a wildfire attorney from Danko Meredith, we will help you assess your losses and value your damages. These will often vary based on the details of your case and are broken up into three types of compensation.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are those directly related to financial losses. These may include costs like:

• Medical bills 
• Temporary housing costs
• Therapy 
• Transportation to and from medical appointments 
• Reimbursement for additional living expenses
• Infrastructure repairs
• Lost wages due to missed work 

Our wildfire attorneys in Butte County, CA, can help you account for your losses and determine the value to take to the negotiation table. 

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages are those that may not have a distinct financial component. These are the non-tangible losses you experience and often include considerations like pain and suffering or emotional anguish. These are often calculated based on the value of your economic damages. 

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded to the claimant but are not considered compensatory. They may also be called exemplary damages and are specifically allocated to the wrongdoer as punishment for behavior done with malice, fraud, or oppression. These may be more commonly assigned in cases where the defendant has a longer history of the same actions. However, the injury victim bears the burden of proof showing malicious, fraudulent, or oppressive intent.

Call Danko Meredith Today to Speak With a Wildfire Attorney Serving Butte County 

Our team is invigorated by the idea of holding large utility companies accountable for the destruction they facilitate in their attempts to cut costs or increase profits. Large companies often rely on intimidating individuals and smaller firms, but Danko Meredith will not be intimidated. 

We are used to being outnumbered in the courtroom, but we will never be out-lawyered. Many potential clients may be intimidated by going against larger corporations. You may be concerned about the cost of a wildfire attorney in Butte County, CA, or the commitment to a consultation. At Danko Meredith, we provide free case consultations with no obligation. Call us today to get the advocacy and support you deserve.