The Redwood Valley Fire (2017) was a California wildfire in Mendocino County, with 36,523 acres, 543 structures destroyed, 9 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 Redwood Valley Fire burned 36,523 acres in Mendocino County in October 2017 and killed nine people, making it one of the deadliest fires in California history. It destroyed 543 structures.
It began as two fires in Potter Valley, each started when part of an oak tree fell onto a PG&E line, according to CAL FIRE and the Public Utilities Commission's safety staff. A third fire, reported in Redwood Valley about an hour after the first, was a spot fire started by embers.
CAL FIRE referred eight of the October 2017 fires to prosecutors. This was not one of them, and no criminal case was brought.
Mendocino County sued PG&E in its own superior court, and the case was coordinated with the other North Bay fire lawsuits in San Francisco. The county was one of the public entities in the $415 million settlement PG&E reached in June 2019. Individual claims were not tried: PG&E filed for bankruptcy in January 2019, and under its reorganization plan fire victims' claims went 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.
Structure counts differ slightly: CAL FIRE's release, incident page and annual statistics say 543 destroyed, and its Top 20 Deadliest list says 544.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2017-10-08 |
| Containment date | 2017-10-26 |
| Region / counties | Mendocino |
| Acreage | 36,523 |
| Structures destroyed | 543 |
| Structures damaged | 41 |
| Fatalities | 9 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Public settlement information | Redwood Valley 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, including the County of Mendocino, under a June 2019 agreement. Mendocino County's expenditure reports list a one-time PG&E settlement of $22,651,737. 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 Redwood Fire started in two locations and was caused by trees or parts of trees falling onto PG&E power lines. State utility regulators placed the first ignition at 11:34 PM on October 8, 2017 on North Busch Road in Potter Valley, on a 60 kV transmission line, and the second about an hour later on a 12 kV distribution circuit nearby. The two fires burned together and spread into Redwood Valley. CAL FIRE did not refer this fire to a district attorney. The regulator's safety staff found three rule violations by PG&E, concerning reporting and record keeping, and said none was the direct cause of the ignition.
What happened
The fire started late on October 8, 2017 in Potter Valley, and embers started a further fire in Redwood Valley about an hour later. Nine people died, one of them a teenager who died of her burns on October 29. CAL FIRE lists 36,523 acres burned, 543 structures destroyed and 41 damaged. Its annual statistics give October 26, 2017 as the containment date. Mendocino County was designated for federal Individual Assistance under disaster declaration DR-4344-CA.
Redwood Valley Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The first fire starts at 11:34 PM on North Busch Road in Potter Valley; a second starts within the hour, and embers start a third fire in Redwood Valley.
Source: California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
Mendocino County declares a state of emergency.
Source: County of Mendocino
Federal major disaster DR-4344-CA is declared.
Source: FEMA
A teenager burned in the fire dies in hospital.
CAL FIRE announces that trees or parts of trees falling onto PG&E power lines caused the fire.
PG&E files for Chapter 11 protection, staying the 2017 fire lawsuits.
CPUC safety staff issue their Potter and Redwood incident report, finding three violations.
Source: California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
PG&E agrees to pay $415 million to 2017 fire public entities, including the County of Mendocino.
The CPUC adopts Decision 20-05-019 on the 2017 and 2018 fires.
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.
Mendocino County sued PG&E in Mendocino County Superior Court, case number SCUK-CVPO-18-70440, and lawsuits over the October 2017 fires were coordinated in San Francisco County Superior Court as the California North Bay Fire Cases. 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. 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; the County of Mendocino is a party to that agreement. The reorganization plan, 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. As of August 31, 2026 the Trust had awarded $19.57 billion and paid $13.72 billion. No criminal charges were filed over this fire. The Public Utilities Commission's safety staff issued their Potter and Redwood incident report on May 3, 2019, finding one violation of Resolution E-4184 and two of General Order 95, 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, Potter and Redwood fires, with CAL FIRE report 17CAMEU012169, redacted , California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division (Case E20171009-02)
- Plan support agreement with the 2017 fire public entities (June 18, 2019) , PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC (Case Mendocino County v. PG&E Corporation, SCUK-CVPO-18-70440)
- 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
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 | 36,523 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Deaths | 9 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Structures destroyed | 543 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Structures destroyed, Top 20 Deadliest list | 544 | CAL FIRE, August 4, 2026 |
| Structures damaged | 41 | CAL FIRE, June 8, 2018 |
| Settlement with 2017 fire public entities, all together | $415 million | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, June 18, 2019 |
| One-time PG&E settlement listed by Mendocino County | $22,651,737 | County of Mendocino, August 31, 2023 |
| 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 |
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Redwood Valley 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
- Jun 8, 2018Cal Fire blames PG&E for multiple North Bay wildfiresThe Mercury News
- Oct 30, 2017Teen girl dies of burn injuries from North Bay wildfireAssociated Press, via The Mercury News
- Oct 14, 2017Eight found dead in Mendocino Lake Complex Fire, more expectedThe Mercury News
- Oct 10, 2017Mendocino County fire: ‘People here are suffering, too’The Mercury News
Common questions about the Redwood Valley Fire
What caused the Redwood Valley Fire?
CAL FIRE announced on June 8, 2018 that the Redwood Fire started in two locations and was caused by trees or parts of trees falling onto PG&E power lines. State utility regulators placed the first ignition at 11:34 PM on October 8, 2017 on North Busch Road in Potter Valley, on a 60 kV transmission line, and the second about an hour later on a 12 kV distribution circuit nearby. The two fires burned together and spread into Redwood Valley. CAL FIRE did not refer this fire to a district attorney. The regulator's safety staff found three rule violations by PG&E, concerning reporting and record keeping, and said none was the direct cause of the ignition.
Is there litigation over the Redwood Valley Fire?
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
What areas did the Redwood Valley Fire affect?
The Redwood Valley Fire (Mendocino County) affected communities including Redwood Valley, Potter Valley.
How large was the Redwood Valley Fire?
36,523 acres, 543 structures destroyed, 9 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
What caused the Redwood Valley Fire?
CAL FIRE determined that the 2017 Redwood Valley Fire in Mendocino County, California started in two locations and was caused by trees or parts of trees falling onto PG&E power lines. It announced the finding on June 8, 2018.
How many people died in the Redwood Valley Fire?
Nine people died in the 2017 Redwood Valley Fire in Mendocino County, California, according to CAL FIRE. The fire burned 36,523 acres and destroyed 543 structures.
Was PG&E charged over the Redwood Valley Fire?
No. CAL FIRE referred eight of the October 2017 Northern California fires to district attorneys, and the Redwood Valley Fire was not among them. No criminal case was brought over it.
How are Redwood Valley Fire claims paid?
Redwood Valley 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.
Did Mendocino County sue PG&E over the Redwood Valley Fire?
Yes. Mendocino County sued PG&E in Mendocino County Superior Court, case number SCUK-CVPO-18-70440, and was one of the public entities in the $415 million settlement PG&E reached on June 18, 2019 over the 2017 Northern California wildfires.
Sources
- Redwood Valley Fire (Mendocino Lake Complex) incident record, CAL FIRE
- CAL FIRE Investigators Determine Causes of 12 Wildfires (June 8, 2018), archived copy, CAL FIRE
- Incident investigation report E20171009-02, Potter and Redwood fires, California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
- Report on the October 2017 Fire Siege, California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
- Decision 20-05-019, California Public Utilities Commission
- Form 8-K, June 8, 2018, on the CAL FIRE findings, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 8-K, June 18, 2019, Exhibit 10.1, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2019, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- PG&E settlement expenditure report, County of Mendocino
- 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
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.