Reported Dove Fire Origin Located Beneath PG&E Transmission Line

The Dove Fire broke out Sunday afternoon southwest of Sonora, prompting evacuations across
Tuolumne County and injuring two firefighters. According to Cal Fire, the reported point of origin is near
Highway 108 and Mill Villa Road, where a PG&E transmission line crosses overhead.

Did PG&E equipment cause the Dove Fire?

At this point, no one knows. Cal Fire lists the cause as under investigation, and no agency has attributed
the fire to any source. While a PG&E transmission line crosses the reported ignition area, utility
equipment is only one of several possible causes that investigators will evaluate.

Why does the location matter?

When a wildfire begins within a transmission or distribution corridor, investigators routinely examine
nearby utility equipment as part of the origin-and-cause investigation. Investigators secure the origin,
photograph burn patterns, and where warranted collect physical evidence, which can include
conductors, hardware, insulators, and vegetation from the right-of-way. When investigators determine
that utility equipment may have played a role, physical evidence is typically preserved so that all
interested parties have an opportunity to inspect it under established legal procedures.

California utilities must also notify the California Public Utilities Commission when an incident is
attributable or is alleged to be attributable to utility facilities. That reporting requirement includes
situations in which a government agency is investigating whether utility equipment may have caused a
wildfire.

Timing matters here. Evidence at an origin site does not last. Weather, suppression work, and cleanup
can compromise it within days. In past California wildfire cases, how well the origin was documented in
the first week has shaped everything that came after.

We are watching the Cal Fire investigation and will post its findings when they are released, whatever
they turn out to be.

Where do I find current evacuation information?

Evacuation boundaries have changed repeatedly since Sunday and will change again. Because conditions
are changing rapidly, don’t rely on this article for real-time evacuation information.

For the latest information, check Cal Fire’s Dove Fire incident page for current evacuation orders,
warnings, road closures, and shelter locations. The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office is also providing
regular updates, and the county information line is available at (209) 533-5151.

I have been evacuated. What should I do?

Stay out. Do not return to your home for belongings, important documents, or anything else until
authorities say it is safe.

Your safety comes first. Everything else can wait. Once you are in a safe
location, you may want to take the following steps:

Save your receipts. Most homeowners’ policies cover additional living expenses, which means lodging,
meals, and pet boarding while you cannot live at home. Your insurer will want documentation.
Photograph receipts as you go.

Open a claim. Do it even if you do not yet know whether your home was damaged. Write down the
claim number, the name of every adjuster you speak to, and the date. If your home is inaccessible
because of evacuation orders, don’t assume you must wait for damage confirmation before contacting
your insurance company. Opening a claim early can help speed assistance if losses are later confirmed.

Find your photos. If you have pictures or video of the inside of your house on your phone or in the
cloud, set them aside. They are usually the best contents proof you will have.

Be careful who you sign with. After every large California fire, displaced homeowners get calls from
public adjusters and contractors. Some are legitimate. Check credentials before you sign anything.

Did PG&E equipment cause the Dove Fire?

Why does the location matter?

Where do I find current evacuation information?

I have been evacuated. What should I do?

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