The Camp Fire (2018) was a California wildfire in Butte County, with 153,336 acres, 18,804 structures destroyed, 85 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. Resolved / settled. Status as of June 15, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2018-11-08 |
| Containment date | 2018-11-25 |
| Region / counties | Butte |
| Acreage | 153,336 |
| Structures destroyed | 18,804 |
| Structures damaged | 564 |
| Fatalities | 85 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Public settlement information | A court-supervised victims' trust was established to administer compensation to eligible claimants; general program information is published by the trust. |
| Last verified | 2026-06-15 |
Cause
Investigators determined that the Camp Fire, which largely destroyed the town of Paradise, was caused by electrical transmission equipment operated by the regional utility. It remains the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history by lives and structures lost.
What happened
The fire overran Paradise and nearby communities within hours of ignition, giving residents little time to evacuate and resulting in catastrophic loss of life and property.
Litigation status
Resolved / settled. Status as of June 15, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
Claims arising from the Camp Fire were resolved through a court-supervised victims’ trust established in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s bankruptcy after the utility was found responsible for the fire. General program information is published by the trust. This site reports the public resolution status only and makes no statement about any individual claim or its value.
Claims arising from the Camp Fire were addressed through a court-supervised trust established in the utility's bankruptcy. This entry reports the public resolution status only and makes no statement about any individual claim.
Court & regulatory record
- PG&E Fire Victim Trust, claims and resolution information , U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California (PG&E Chapter 11)
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, only a licensed attorney can assess yours.
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Camp Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
Common questions about the Camp Fire
What caused the Camp Fire?
Investigators determined that the Camp Fire, which largely destroyed the town of Paradise, was caused by electrical transmission equipment operated by the regional utility. It remains the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history by lives and structures lost.
Is there litigation over the Camp Fire?
Resolved / settled. Status as of June 15, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
What areas did the Camp Fire affect?
The Camp Fire (Butte County) affected communities including Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Butte Creek Canyon, Pulga.
How large was the Camp Fire?
153,336 acres, 18,804 structures destroyed, 85 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-06-15.
Sources
- CAL FIRE Incident Statistics, Top 20 Most Destructive and Deadliest California Wildfires, CAL FIRE
- PG&E Fire Victim Trust, PG&E Fire Victim Trust
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.