The Kincade Fire (2019) was a California wildfire in Sonoma County, with 77,758 acres, 374 structures destroyed, 0 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Corporation Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC.
The Kincade Fire burned 77,758 acres of northern Sonoma County between October 23 and November 6, 2019. Nobody died. It destroyed 374 structures and drove one of the largest evacuations in the county's history.
Unlike many fires in this database, almost every question about the Kincade Fire has an answer on the public record. The state named a cause. A district attorney filed criminal charges and then resolved them. The utilities regulator imposed a penalty. Local governments settled. And the utility itself now reports that it has settled, or agreed in principle to settle, with substantially all of the individuals who sued it.
What the record does not show is what any individual received. The only settlement with a published amount is the $31 million paid to five local governments. PG&E reports its own running total: $1,287 million paid across all Kincade claims through December 31, 2025, against a recorded liability of $1.325 billion.
One proceeding is still open. In November 2025 PG&E asked the California Public Utilities Commission for permission to recover its Kincade and Dixie fire costs. That case decides who ultimately pays, the company or its customers, and a proposed decision is scheduled for November 13, 2026.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2019-10-23 |
| Containment date | 2019-11-06 |
| Region / counties | Sonoma |
| Acreage | 77,758 |
| Structures destroyed | 374 |
| Structures damaged | 60 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Public settlement information | Five local governments (Sonoma County, Windsor, Healdsburg, Cloverdale and Santa Rosa) settled with PG&E for $31 million in May 2021. PG&E paid $20.25 million under an April 2022 stipulated judgment that ended the criminal case. No settlement amount for individual plaintiffs or insurers has been published. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Cause
CAL FIRE announced on July 16, 2020 that its investigators had determined the Kincade Fire was caused by electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, northeast of Geyserville. CAL FIRE sent its investigation report to the Sonoma County District Attorney. PG&E said at the time that it did not have access to the report or the evidence behind it. CAL FIRE's own incident page for the fire still shows the cause as under investigation, which appears to be an unedited page rather than a competing finding.
What happened
The Kincade Fire started at 9:27 PM on October 23, 2019, northeast of Geyserville in Sonoma County, during a severe wind event. Geyserville was ordered out first. On Saturday, October 26, Healdsburg and Windsor were ordered to evacuate, and on Sunday, October 27 the orders extended to parts of Santa Rosa. KQED reported 180,000 residents under evacuation orders by that Sunday morning; CBS San Francisco later put the number who fled at some 200,000. CAL FIRE recorded containment on November 6, 2019, at 77,758 acres, with 374 structures destroyed, 60 damaged and no fatalities.
Kincade Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Kincade Fire starts at 9:27 PM northeast of Geyserville.
Source: CAL FIRE
Healdsburg and Windsor are ordered to evacuate, with Geyserville already under orders.
Source: KQED
Evacuation orders extend to parts of Santa Rosa, reaching 180,000 residents.
Source: KQED
CAL FIRE records the fire as contained at 77,758 acres.
Source: CAL FIRE
CAL FIRE announces that PG&E transmission lines caused the fire and sends its report to the Sonoma County District Attorney.
Source: CBS Sacramento
The Sonoma County District Attorney charges PG&E with five felonies and 28 misdemeanors.
Source: CBS San Francisco
Sonoma County, Windsor, Healdsburg, Cloverdale and Santa Rosa announce a joint $31 million settlement with PG&E.
Source: CBS San Francisco
Plaintiffs file master complaints in the coordinated civil proceeding.
The CPUC approves a $125 million penalty: a $40 million fine and an $85 million permanent disallowance.
The court overrules PG&E's demurrer to the inverse condemnation claims.
CAL FIRE files a complaint seeking about $90 million in suppression and other costs.
A preliminary hearing on the criminal charges begins.
PG&E and the District Attorney file a civil stipulated judgment: $20.25 million and an independent monitor for at least five years.
The court dismisses the criminal complaint against PG&E.
The court vacates the civil trial that had been set for November 7, 2022.
PG&E enters an agreement with substantially all insurance subrogation plaintiffs.
The court vacates the bellwether trial that had been set for August 26, 2024.
PG&E files CPUC Application 25-11-001 to recover Kincade and Dixie fire costs.
PG&E reports it has settled or reached settlements in principle with substantially all known individual plaintiffs.
Litigation status
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Corporation Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC.
Civil claims against PG&E over the Kincade Fire were handled together in a coordinated proceeding before the San Francisco County Superior Court. Plaintiffs filed master complaints on July 16, 2021, and on December 10, 2021 the court overruled PG&E's challenge to their inverse condemnation claims. A trial set for November 7, 2022 was vacated. On October 26, 2022 PG&E entered an agreement with substantially all of the insurance subrogation plaintiffs. A bellwether trial set for August 26, 2024 was vacated on July 14, 2024. As of February 4, 2026 PG&E reported about 135 complaints on behalf of at least 3,014 plaintiffs, and in its next quarterly report it stated that, as of April 15, 2026, it had settled or reached settlements in principle with substantially all known individual plaintiffs. That is the company's own disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission, not a court order, and a CPUC ruling from December 2025 notes PG&E's statement that certain claims remain outstanding. We found no trial verdict. Separately, the Sonoma County District Attorney charged PG&E on April 6, 2021 with five felonies and 28 misdemeanors. On April 8, 2022 the two sides filed a civil stipulated judgment under which PG&E paid $20.25 million and accepted an independent compliance monitor for at least five years, without admitting wrongdoing, and the court dismissed the criminal complaint on April 11, 2022. The California Public Utilities Commission approved Resolution SED-6 on December 2, 2021: a $40 million fine paid to the state General Fund and an $85 million permanent disallowance, $125 million in total. CAL FIRE also filed its own complaint on January 5, 2022 seeking about $90 million in suppression and other costs; we have not found a public report of how that claim ended.
Resolved means that matters over this fire have been settled or closed on the public record. It does not mean every claim is closed, and it says nothing about any individual situation. This entry reports only what the public record shows as of the status date.
Court & regulatory record
- Resolution SED-6, Administrative Consent Order regarding the 2019 Kincade Fire (December 2, 2021) , California Public Utilities Commission
- Press release: CPUC Penalizes PG&E for 2019 Kincade Wildfire , California Public Utilities Commission
- Assigned Commissioner's Scoping Memo and Ruling, review and recovery of Kincade and Dixie fire costs (December 12, 2025) , California Public Utilities Commission (Case A.25-11-001)
- Form 10-Q, first quarter 2026: Wildfire-Related Contingencies , PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K, fiscal year 2025: Wildfire-Related Contingencies , PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K, fiscal year 2022: Wildfire-Related Contingencies , PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CPUC penalty, total | $125 million | California Public Utilities Commission, Resolution SED-6, December 2, 2021 |
| Of which, fine to the state General Fund | $40 million | California Public Utilities Commission, December 2, 2021 |
| Of which, permanent disallowance | $85 million | California Public Utilities Commission, December 2, 2021 |
| Settlement with five local governments | $31 million | CBS San Francisco, May 26, 2021 |
| Stipulated judgment ending the criminal case | $20.25 million | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, April 8, 2022 |
| Complaints and plaintiffs PG&E was aware of | About 135 complaints, at least 3,014 plaintiffs | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, February 4, 2026 |
| PG&E cumulative payments, all Kincade claims | $1,287 million | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, December 31, 2025 |
| PG&E recorded liability, before insurance | $1.325 billion | PG&E Corporation Form 10-Q, December 31, 2025 |
| Suppression and other costs sought by CAL FIRE | About $90 million | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, January 5, 2022 |
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Kincade Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- Apr 11, 2022PG&E Reaches $55 Million Deal to Avoid Criminal Charges in Counties Ravaged by Recent WildfiresKQED
- Dec 2, 2021PG&E slapped with $125 million penalty for sparking 2019 Kincade FireCourthouse News Service
- May 26, 20215 Sonoma County Governments Reach $31M Settlement With PG&E Over 2019 Kincade FireCBS San Francisco
- Apr 6, 2021Sonoma County DA Files Charges Against PG&E For Role In 2019 Kincaid FireCBS San Francisco
- Jul 16, 2020PG&E Power Lines Caused 2019 Kincade Fire In Sonoma CountyCBS Sacramento
- Oct 26, 2019Officials Order 180,000 People to Evacuate Due to Kincade Fire in Sonoma CountyKQED
Common questions about the Kincade Fire
What caused the Kincade Fire?
CAL FIRE announced on July 16, 2020 that its investigators had determined the Kincade Fire was caused by electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, northeast of Geyserville. CAL FIRE sent its investigation report to the Sonoma County District Attorney. PG&E said at the time that it did not have access to the report or the evidence behind it. CAL FIRE's own incident page for the fire still shows the cause as under investigation, which appears to be an unedited page rather than a competing finding.
Is there litigation over the Kincade Fire?
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Corporation Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC.
What areas did the Kincade Fire affect?
The Kincade Fire (Sonoma County) affected communities including Geyserville, Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Cloverdale, Alexander Valley.
How large was the Kincade Fire?
77,758 acres, 374 structures destroyed, 0 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
What caused the Kincade Fire?
CAL FIRE announced on July 16, 2020 that the 2019 Kincade Fire in Sonoma County was caused by electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, northeast of Geyserville.
When did the Kincade Fire start and end?
The Kincade Fire started at 9:27 PM on October 23, 2019 northeast of Geyserville in Sonoma County, California, and CAL FIRE recorded it as contained on November 6, 2019, after 14 days and 77,758 acres.
Was PG&E criminally charged over the Kincade Fire?
Yes. The Sonoma County District Attorney charged PG&E on April 6, 2021 with five felonies and 28 misdemeanors over the Kincade Fire. The case ended without a trial: on April 8, 2022 PG&E and the District Attorney filed a civil stipulated judgment under which PG&E paid $20.25 million and accepted an independent compliance monitor for at least five years, and the court dismissed the criminal complaint on April 11, 2022.
Was the Kincade Fire lawsuit against PG&E settled?
PG&E reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that, as of April 15, 2026, it had settled or reached settlements in principle with substantially all known individual plaintiffs in the Kincade Fire litigation. Five local governments settled for $31 million in May 2021 and insurers reached an agreement in October 2022. No settlement amount for individuals has been published, and we found no trial verdict.
How much did the CPUC fine PG&E for the Kincade Fire?
The California Public Utilities Commission approved a $125 million penalty against PG&E for the Kincade Fire on December 2, 2021, in Resolution SED-6: a $40 million fine paid to the state General Fund and an $85 million permanent disallowance for removing abandoned transmission facilities.
How many people were evacuated in the Kincade Fire?
KQED reported that 180,000 Sonoma County residents were under evacuation orders for the Kincade Fire by Sunday, October 27, 2019. CBS San Francisco later put the number who fled at some 200,000.
Sources
- Kincade Fire incident record, CAL FIRE
- Resolution SED-6 regarding the 2019 Kincade Fire, California Public Utilities Commission
- Press release: CPUC Penalizes PG&E for 2019 Kincade Wildfire, California Public Utilities Commission
- Scoping Memo and Ruling, Application 25-11-001, California Public Utilities Commission
- Form 10-Q, first quarter 2026, Wildfire-Related Contingencies, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K, fiscal year 2025, Wildfire-Related Contingencies, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K, fiscal year 2022, Wildfire-Related Contingencies, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K, fiscal year 2021, Wildfire-Related Contingencies, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- PG&E Power Lines Caused 2019 Kincade Fire In Sonoma County, CBS Sacramento
- Sonoma County DA Files Charges Against PG&E For Role In 2019 Kincaid Fire, CBS San Francisco
- 5 Sonoma County Governments Reach $31M Settlement With PG&E Over 2019 Kincade Fire, CBS San Francisco
- PG&E Reaches $55 Million Deal to Avoid Criminal Charges in Counties Ravaged by Recent Wildfires, KQED
- Officials Order 180,000 People to Evacuate Due to Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, KQED
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.