Plumas County received $6 million to support wildfire recovery efforts after the 2021 Dixie Fire. The money comes from a legal settlement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and a PG&E program launched after the fire.
District Attorney David Hollister led the negotiations with PG&E. He emphasized the close relationship between Plumas County and the utility. Hollister focused on recovery and cooperation rather than penalties.
The settlement directs $1.5 million for public safety infrastructure in Greenville and Chester. Another $1.5 million goes to The Almanor Foundation for economic development and beautification in areas hit by the Dixie Fire. Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship receives $1 million for rural development and recovery projects.
PG&E set aside an additional $2 million for a wildfire resilience fund. This money will remove dead trees and support other fire prevention efforts, working with the Plumas County Firesafe Council.
The company cannot raise customer rates to cover these costs. Supervisors see this funding as a step toward rebuilding communities and encouraging new residents and businesses.
This funding builds on a 2022 settlement where PG&E paid $29.5 million to five counties impacted by the Dixie Fire. Plumas County’s share, $17 million, went to local nonprofits, training programs, and commercial timberland owners for damage claims. PG&E also agreed to create new jobs in northern California.
District attorneys hired a third-party monitor paid for by PG&E. The monitor helps track and fix complaints. Hollister meets regularly with the monitor to review issues and ensure compliance.
Plumas County also settled a civil lawsuit for $7.8 million to cover county property damages.
The recent $6 million comes after the July 2023 Twain Fire, started by a PG&E contractor. The fire burned 276 acres but caused no injuries or property damage. Hollister used the incident to open a broader conversation with PG&E about long-term recovery.
The Almanor Foundation plans to use its funds to promote jobs, recreation, and business growth in northern Plumas County. They will coordinate projects to maximize community impact.
The Firesafe Council will remove hazardous burned trees along Greenville roads and plant new trees to restore the forest.
Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship will rebuild trails and wildfire mitigation projects destroyed by the Dixie Fire. They will base their work on community input gathered from nearly 200 town hall meetings.
PG&E has been linked to over 1,500 fires since 2015, causing more than 100 deaths. Since the Dixie Fire
