The Atlas Fire (2017) was a California wildfire in Napa & Solano Counties, with 51,624 acres, 783 structures destroyed, 6 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
The Atlas Fire burned 51,624 acres in Napa and Solano counties in October 2017. It killed six people and destroyed 783 structures in the hills east of Napa.
CAL FIRE found that it started at two points on one PG&E power line, where a tree and a tree limb fell into it, and referred the case to prosecutors. In March 2019 the district attorneys of Napa and Sonoma counties, with two others, said they would not file charges. A civil trial over the Atlas Fire had been set for September 23, 2019; PG&E's bankruptcy filing halted it.
Claims are not being tried in court. PG&E filed for bankruptcy in January 2019, and its reorganization plan, effective July 1, 2020, sent fire victims' claims to the Fire Victim Trust. The Trust pays claims from the 2017 North Bay fires, the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2015 Butte Fire together and publishes combined figures only: $19.57 billion awarded and $13.72 billion paid as of August 31, 2026, at 70 percent of approved claim value, with a final 1.25 percent distribution announced for October 14, 2026.
Local governments settled separately: in June 2019 PG&E agreed to pay $415 million to a group of public entities affected by the 2017 fires, including Napa County and the City of Napa. State regulators approved $1.937 billion in penalties in May 2020 covering the 2017 fires and the Camp Fire.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2017-10-08 |
| Containment date | 2017-10-28 |
| Region / counties | Napa, Solano |
| Acreage | 51,624 |
| Structures destroyed | 783 |
| Structures damaged | 120 |
| Fatalities | 6 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Public settlement information | Atlas Fire claims were resolved through PG&E's Chapter 11 plan: a stated $13.5 billion for fire victims paid through the Fire Victim Trust, and $415 million to a group of 2017 fire public entities under a June 2019 settlement. The Trust reports $19.57 billion awarded and $13.72 billion paid across all its fires as of August 31, 2026. No figure for this fire alone is published. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Cause
CAL FIRE announced on June 8, 2018 that the Atlas Fire started in two places on the same PG&E power line: at one, a large limb broke from a tree and hit the line; at the other, a tree fell into it. It referred its investigation to the district attorney, citing evidence of alleged violations of state law. State utility regulators placed the first ignition near Atlas Peak Road in Napa at about 9:51 PM on October 8, 2017 and found five violations of General Order 95. No criminal charges were filed. CAL FIRE's incident page still shows the cause as under investigation.
What happened
The Atlas Fire started on the night of October 8, 2017 near Atlas Peak Road in the hills east of Napa, on the same night as the Tubbs and Nuns fires, and burned into Solano County. Six people died. CAL FIRE lists 51,624 acres, 783 structures destroyed and 120 damaged. Its annual statistics give October 28, 2017 as the containment date.
Atlas Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Atlas Fire starts at about 9:51 PM near Atlas Peak Road, Napa, where a tree falls on a PG&E conductor; a second ignition on the same circuit merges with it.
Source: California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
Federal major disaster DR-4344-CA is declared.
Source: FEMA
Containment date recorded for the Atlas Fire in CAL FIRE's annual statistics.
Source: CAL FIRE
CAL FIRE announces that the Atlas Fire started where a tree and a limb hit a PG&E power line, and refers the investigation to the district attorney.
PG&E files for Chapter 11 protection, staying the 2017 fire lawsuits coordinated in San Francisco County Superior Court.
The Sonoma, Napa, Humboldt and Lake county district attorneys announce they will not prosecute PG&E over the 2017 fires.
Source: The Press Democrat
PG&E agrees to pay $415 million to 2017 fire public entities, including Sonoma and Napa counties.
PG&E reaches the $13.5 billion agreement covering individual claims from the 2017 fires and the Camp Fire.
The CPUC adopts Decision 20-05-019, imposing $1.937 billion in penalties for the 2017 and 2018 fires plus a suspended $200 million fine.
PG&E's plan takes effect and the Fire Victim Trust is established and funded.
Source: PG&E Fire Victim Trust
The Trustee announces a final 1.25 percent distribution for October 14, 2026.
Source: PG&E Fire Victim Trust
The Governor signs Assembly Bill 2700, which would require the Public Utilities Commission to identify pathways for full restitution for victims of fires sparked by PG&E from 2015 through 2018.
Source: The Mercury News
Litigation status
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
Before PG&E's bankruptcy, the company knew of about 750 complaints on behalf of at least 3,800 plaintiffs over the 2017 Northern California wildfires as a group, coordinated in San Francisco County Superior Court, and a trial over the Atlas Fire had been set for September 23, 2019. PG&E filed for Chapter 11 protection on January 29, 2019, case 19-30088, which stayed those suits. On June 18, 2019 it agreed to pay $415 million to public entities affected by the 2017 fires. Its reorganization plan, confirmed June 20, 2020 and effective July 1, 2020, resolved wildfire claims in three groups for the 2017 fires, the Camp Fire and the Butte Fire together: $11 billion to insurers, $1 billion to public entities and a stated $13.5 billion for fire victims, paid through the Fire Victim Trust. The Trust reports that all determinations have been issued; as of August 31, 2026 it had awarded $19.57 billion and paid $13.72 billion. No criminal charges were filed. The California Public Utilities Commission's safety staff found five violations of General Order 95 in their Atlas Fire report, and on May 7, 2020 the Commission adopted Decision 20-05-019, resolving its investigation of the 2017 and 2018 fires with $1.937 billion in penalties and a further $200 million fine whose payment was permanently suspended.
Resolved means that matters over this fire have been settled or closed on the public record. It says nothing about any individual situation. Figures shown for the Trust cover several fires together.
Court & regulatory record
- Incident investigation report, Atlas Fire, with CAL FIRE report 17CALNU010046, redacted , California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division (Case E20171023-01)
- Decision 20-05-019, approving the settlement of the 2017 and 2018 wildfire investigation , California Public Utilities Commission (Case I.19-06-015)
- CAL FIRE Investigators Determine Causes of 12 Wildfires (June 8, 2018), archived copy , CAL FIRE
- Fire Victim Trust: payments and awards , PG&E Fire Victim Trust
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2019: 2017 Northern California wildfires , PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC (Case Bankruptcy case 19-30088)
This is a reported public-record status, not advice about any individual’s legal situation. Deadlines and eligibility change over time and depend on facts specific to each person. If you have questions about yours, contact us and we will help.
Key figures on the public record
Each figure below was published by the court, agency, or company named beside it, on the date shown. These describe the case and the disaster, not any individual’s situation.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Acres burned | 51,624 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Structures destroyed | 783 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Structures damaged | 120 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Deaths | 6 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Stated value for fire victim claims, three fire groups together | $13.5 billion | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, December 6, 2019 |
| Settlement with 2017 fire public entities | $415 million | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, June 18, 2019 |
| CPUC penalties, 2017 and 2018 fires together | $1.937 billion, plus a suspended $200 million fine | California Public Utilities Commission, Decision 20-05-019, May 7, 2020 |
| Awarded by the Fire Victim Trust, all fires | $19.57 billion | PG&E Fire Victim Trust, August 31, 2026 |
| Paid by the Fire Victim Trust, all fires | $13.72 billion | PG&E Fire Victim Trust, August 31, 2026 |
| Pro rata payment percentage | 70 percent; final 1.25 percent announced for October 14, 2026 | PG&E Fire Victim Trust, September 10, 2026 |
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Atlas Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- Oct 1, 2026‘A major win’: Newsom signs bill to facilitate full compensation for Northern California wildfire survivorsThe Mercury News
- Aug 18, 2026Camp Fire victims trust nears final payout, leaving many short of full awardsKRCR
- Sep 30, 2022Ex-PG&E execs to pay $117M to settle lawsuit over wildfiresAssociated Press, via KPBS
- Aug 12, 2019Northern California Wildfire Victims Can File Claims With PG&EAssociated Press, via KQED
- Jun 26, 2019Notice Plan and Deadline for Wildfire Claims Set in PG&E BankruptcyCourthouse News Service
- Mar 12, 2019Sonoma County DA: No criminal charges for PG&E in 2017 wildfiresThe Press Democrat
- Aug 22, 2018A Long Recovery for Iconic Napa Pet Cemetery Swept by October FireKQED
- Nov 2, 2017A Forest of LawsuitsKQED
Common questions about the Atlas Fire
What caused the Atlas Fire?
CAL FIRE announced on June 8, 2018 that the Atlas Fire started in two places on the same PG&E power line: at one, a large limb broke from a tree and hit the line; at the other, a tree fell into it. It referred its investigation to the district attorney, citing evidence of alleged violations of state law. State utility regulators placed the first ignition near Atlas Peak Road in Napa at about 9:51 PM on October 8, 2017 and found five violations of General Order 95. No criminal charges were filed. CAL FIRE's incident page still shows the cause as under investigation.
Is there litigation over the Atlas Fire?
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
What areas did the Atlas Fire affect?
The Atlas Fire (Napa & Solano Counties) affected communities including Napa, Atlas Peak.
How large was the Atlas Fire?
51,624 acres, 783 structures destroyed, 6 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
What caused the Atlas Fire?
CAL FIRE determined that the 2017 Atlas Fire in Napa County, California started in two locations on one PG&E power line: at one, a large limb broke from a tree and hit the line, and at the other a tree fell into the same line. It announced that finding on June 8, 2018.
What was the Atlas Fire death toll?
Six people died in the 2017 Atlas Fire in Napa County, California, according to CAL FIRE. The fire burned 51,624 acres and destroyed 783 structures.
Was PG&E charged over the Atlas Fire?
No. CAL FIRE referred its Atlas Fire investigation to the district attorney on June 8, 2018, but on March 12, 2019 the district attorneys of Napa, Sonoma, Humboldt and Lake counties announced they would not prosecute PG&E over the October 2017 fires.
How are Atlas Fire claims paid?
Atlas Fire claims against PG&E are paid by the Fire Victim Trust, created by PG&E's bankruptcy plan, which took effect on July 1, 2020. The Trust pays claims from the 2017 North Bay fires, the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2015 Butte Fire and publishes combined figures only: $19.57 billion awarded and $13.72 billion paid as of August 31, 2026.
Sources
- Atlas Fire (Southern LNU Complex) incident record, CAL FIRE
- Incident investigation report E20171023-01, Atlas Fire, California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
- CAL FIRE Investigators Determine Causes of 12 Wildfires (June 8, 2018), archived copy, CAL FIRE
- Form 8-K, June 8, 2018, on the CAL FIRE findings, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2019, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Decision 20-05-019, California Public Utilities Commission
- Report on the October 2017 Fire Siege, California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
- Fire Victim Trust: payments and awards, PG&E Fire Victim Trust
- Top 20 lists and annual statistics, linked from CAL FIRE Statistics, CAL FIRE
- Disaster declaration DR-4344-CA, FEMA
- Sonoma County DA: No criminal charges for PG&E in 2017 wildfires, The Press Democrat
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.