By the time the blaze was contained October 15, the Valley fire had become the third-most destructive wildfire in California history, with estimated insured losses and damage to government infrastructure alone totaling $1.5 billion.
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Cal Fire says the destructive 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County was caused by a faulty residential electrical connection.
“In the investigative report, it indicates that the homeowner did admit to installing the circuit himself”, Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott said.
Investigators found that wiring on the hot tub was not up to building codes and a permit for a structure housing the hot tub made no mention of any electrical work. “There was rumors that it was a pot farm, a hash oil lab, a meth lab, somebody intentionally starting the fire”, said a Cal Fire spokesperson.
Calfire announced the cause Wednesday stating that the electrical connection arced and ignited surrounding dry grass. “It’s painful, and it’s hard”, Pimlott said.
The fire was responsible for the deaths of four people who lived in the communities of Middletown, Hidden Valley and others. They say that sparked a fire that spread so rapidly, that four firefighters were seriously injured in the first few hours.
The district attorney’s office is reviewing the final report to determine if any charges are appropriate. In all the evidence, there was one thing missing. “You have to have a positive attitude”, he said past year.
At its peak, more than 4,000 firefighters battle the blaze, which cost near $57 million to extinguish, Cal Fire officials said.
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Investigators zeroed in on a shed on High Valley Road near the community of Cobb soon after the 76,000-acre fire broke out on September 12.
