The Tubbs Fire (2017) was a California wildfire in Sonoma & Napa Counties, with 36,807 acres, 5,636 structures destroyed, 22 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 Tubbs Fire killed 22 people and destroyed 5,636 structures in October 2017, most of them homes in Santa Rosa. CAL FIRE ranks it fourth on its list of the most destructive California wildfires.
It is also the one large fire of that week that the state did not blame on PG&E. CAL FIRE found that it started at a private electrical system beside a house near Calistoga. People who lost homes did not accept that, and a bankruptcy judge agreed in August 2019 that a state court jury should decide whether PG&E was liable. A trial for 18 elderly or ill plaintiffs was set for January 7, 2020.
The jury never sat. On December 6, 2019 PG&E announced a settlement valued at about $13.5 billion with wildfire victims, covering the 2017 Northern California fires including Tubbs, the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2015 Butte Fire. The trial dates were vacated. PG&E has said it continued to believe it would not have been found liable.
Tubbs claims were then sent to the Fire Victim Trust, which pays claims from all of those fires and publishes combined figures only. As of August 31, 2026 it reports $19.57 billion awarded and $13.72 billion paid, at 70 percent of approved claim value, with a final 1.25 percent distribution announced for October 14, 2026.
What is still open is the shortfall between what was awarded and what the Trust can pay. A state law chaptered on September 30, 2026, Assembly Bill 2700, directs the Public Utilities Commission to report on it.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2017-10-08 |
| Containment date | 2017-10-31 |
| Region / counties | Sonoma, Napa |
| Acreage | 36,807 |
| Structures destroyed | 5,636 |
| Structures damaged | 317 |
| Fatalities | 22 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Public settlement information | Tubbs 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 North Bay 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 Tubbs-only figure is published. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Cause
CAL FIRE announced on January 24, 2019 that the Tubbs Fire was caused by a private electrical system adjacent to a residential structure near Calistoga, and that it found no violations of state law related to the cause. It did not attribute the fire to Pacific Gas and Electric Company equipment. The California Public Utilities Commission's safety division separately investigated and found no violations by PG&E with respect to this fire. Fire victims disputed the finding and argued that PG&E equipment was involved. A jury trial on that question was set for January 2020 and never took place, because PG&E settled first. No court has ruled on whether PG&E caused the Tubbs Fire, so the CAL FIRE finding stands as the only official determination.
What happened
The Tubbs Fire started at about 9:45 PM on October 8, 2017 off Highway 128 near Calistoga in Napa County and, driven by strong winds, ran into Santa Rosa overnight. It burned through Fountaingrove and into Coffey Park, where more than 1,300 homes were lost. Twenty-two people died. The City of Santa Rosa says the fires burning in Sonoma County that week caused an estimated 100,000 people to evacuate countywide. The fire was declared fully contained on October 31, 2017. CAL FIRE lists 36,807 acres, 5,636 structures destroyed and 317 damaged.
Tubbs Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Tubbs Fire starts at about 9:45 PM near Calistoga and runs toward Santa Rosa overnight.
Source: CAL FIRE
The Tubbs, Nuns and Pocket fires are declared fully contained.
Source: The Press Democrat
CAL FIRE announces the fire was caused by a private electrical system, not PG&E equipment.
Source: NPR
PG&E files for Chapter 11 protection, staying the fire lawsuits.
Sonoma County prosecutors say they will not file criminal charges against PG&E over the October 2017 fires.
Source: The Press Democrat
PG&E agrees to pay $1 billion to local governments for wildfire damage.
Source: NPR
The bankruptcy court lifts the stay so a state court jury can decide PG&E's liability for the Tubbs Fire.
Source: Courthouse News Service
The San Francisco Superior Court sets the trial for January 7, 2020 and refuses to move it to Sonoma County.
Source: Courthouse News Service
PG&E announces a $13.5 billion settlement with wildfire victims.
Source: CBS San Francisco
The court vacates all dates in the Tubbs trial.
The bankruptcy court approves settlements with the plaintiffs who had been set for trial.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
PG&E's plan takes effect and fire victim claims are channeled to the Fire Victim Trust.
The Trustee announces a final 1.25 percent distribution for October 14, 2026.
Source: PG&E Fire Victim Trust
Assembly Bill 2700, on wildfire victim restitution shortfalls, is chaptered.
Litigation status
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
Homeowners, renters, businesses, insurers and local governments sued PG&E over the October 2017 North Bay fires, including the Tubbs Fire, and the individual and insurer cases were coordinated in San Francisco Superior Court. PG&E filed for Chapter 11 protection on January 29, 2019, five days after the Tubbs cause finding, which stayed those suits. On June 18, 2019 PG&E agreed to pay $1 billion to local governments, of which $415 million went to North Bay public entities including Sonoma County and Santa Rosa. On August 16, 2019 the bankruptcy court, in case 19-30088, lifted the stay so that a state court jury could decide whether PG&E caused the Tubbs Fire. On September 16, 2019 the San Francisco Superior Court set that trial for January 7, 2020, for 18 plaintiffs given trial preference. On December 6, 2019 PG&E announced a settlement valued at about $13.5 billion with wildfire victims, and on December 26, 2019 the court vacated all dates in the Tubbs trial. The bankruptcy court approved individual settlements with the preference plaintiffs on January 29, 2020; the amounts are confidential. PG&E's plan took effect on July 1, 2020 and channeled fire victim claims to the Fire Victim Trust. Sonoma County prosecutors announced on March 12, 2019 that they would not file criminal charges against PG&E over the October 2017 fires.
Resolved means that matters over this fire have been settled or closed on the public record. No court decided who caused the Tubbs Fire, and nothing here describes any individual situation.
Court & regulatory record
- Memorandum decision regarding motions for relief from stay (August 16, 2019), copy hosted by Courthouse News , U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California (Case 19-30088)
- Fire Victim Trust: payments and awards , PG&E Fire Victim Trust
- Decision 23-10-025, order denying rehearing, describing the Tubbs investigation , California Public Utilities Commission (Case A.20-09-019)
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2019: Tubbs trial and settlements , PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Assembly Bill 2700, bill status (chaptered September 30, 2026) , California Legislative Information
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 22 | CAL FIRE, October 25, 2019 |
| Structures destroyed | 5,636 | CAL FIRE, October 25, 2019 |
| Structures damaged | 317 | CAL FIRE, October 25, 2019 |
| Acres burned | 36,807 | CAL FIRE, October 25, 2019 |
| Settlement with North Bay public entities | $415 million | PG&E Corporation Form 10-K, June 18, 2019 |
| Stated value for fire victim claims, three fire groups together | $13.5 billion | CBS San Francisco, December 6, 2019 |
| 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 Tubbs 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
- Sep 21, 2026NorCal wildfire survivors still short on payouts push Newsom to sign billABC7 News
- Aug 28, 2026Bill to help make Northern California wildfire survivors whole moves ahead after unanimous state Senate voteThe Press Democrat
- Jul 16, 2020Santa Rosa, Sonoma County collect more than $240 million in PG&E settlement for 2017 firesThe Press Democrat
- Jan 29, 2020PG&E: Judge approves Tubbs Fire settlementsSan Francisco Chronicle
- Dec 6, 2019PG&E Announces $13.5 Billion Settlement With Individual Wildfire VictimsCBS San Francisco
- Sep 16, 2019Judge Rejects PG&E Bid to Move Wildfire Liability TrialCourthouse News Service
- Aug 16, 2019Jury to Decide Tubbs Fire Claims Against PG&ECourthouse News Service
- Jan 24, 2019Cal Fire: PG&E Power Lines Did Not Start Fire That Destroyed Parts of Santa RosaKQED
Common questions about the Tubbs Fire
What caused the Tubbs Fire?
CAL FIRE announced on January 24, 2019 that the Tubbs Fire was caused by a private electrical system adjacent to a residential structure near Calistoga, and that it found no violations of state law related to the cause. It did not attribute the fire to Pacific Gas and Electric Company equipment. The California Public Utilities Commission's safety division separately investigated and found no violations by PG&E with respect to this fire. Fire victims disputed the finding and argued that PG&E equipment was involved. A jury trial on that question was set for January 2020 and never took place, because PG&E settled first. No court has ruled on whether PG&E caused the Tubbs Fire, so the CAL FIRE finding stands as the only official determination.
Is there litigation over the Tubbs Fire?
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per PG&E Fire Victim Trust.
What areas did the Tubbs Fire affect?
The Tubbs Fire (Sonoma & Napa Counties) affected communities including Santa Rosa, Coffey Park, Fountaingrove, Larkfield-Wikiup, Mark West Springs, Calistoga.
How large was the Tubbs Fire?
36,807 acres, 5,636 structures destroyed, 22 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
What caused the Tubbs Fire?
CAL FIRE determined that the 2017 Tubbs Fire was caused by a private electrical system adjacent to a residential structure near Calistoga, California, and not by PG&E equipment. It announced that finding on January 24, 2019. Fire victims disputed it, and no court ever ruled on the question because PG&E settled before the trial.
When was the Tubbs Fire and how many people died?
The Tubbs Fire started at about 9:45 PM on October 8, 2017 near Calistoga and burned into Santa Rosa, California overnight. It killed 22 people, burned 36,807 acres and destroyed 5,636 structures, according to CAL FIRE. It was declared fully contained on October 31, 2017.
Was PG&E held responsible for the Tubbs Fire?
No court found PG&E responsible for the Tubbs Fire. CAL FIRE attributed the fire to a private electrical system. A jury trial on PG&E's liability was set for January 7, 2020 in San Francisco Superior Court, but it was vacated after PG&E announced a $13.5 billion settlement with wildfire victims on December 6, 2019 that included Tubbs Fire claims.
How are Tubbs Fire claims paid?
Tubbs 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 also pays claims from the 2015 Butte Fire and the 2018 Camp Fire 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.
What happened in Coffey Park?
Coffey Park is a Santa Rosa neighborhood that the Tubbs Fire burned through in October 2017. More than 1,300 homes were lost there, and about 1,600 in Fountaingrove, according to The Press Democrat.
Sources
- Tubbs Fire (Central LNU Complex) incident record, CAL FIRE
- California investigation finds PG&E blameless in massive 2017 wine region wildfire, NPR
- Memorandum decision regarding motions for relief from stay, case 19-30088, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California, copy hosted by Courthouse News
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2019, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2020, PG&E Corporation, filed with the SEC
- Decision 23-10-025, California Public Utilities Commission
- Fire Victim Trust: payments and awards, PG&E Fire Victim Trust
- Sonoma County DA: No criminal charges for PG&E in 2017 wildfires, The Press Democrat
- Tubbs, Nuns, Pocket fires fully contained in Sonoma and Napa counties, The Press Democrat
- Santa Rosa, Sonoma County collect more than $240 million in PG&E settlement for 2017 fires, The Press Democrat
- October 2017 Wildfires, City of Santa Rosa
- Assembly Bill 2700, bill status, California Legislative Information
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.