The Valley Fire (2015) was a California wildfire in Lake, Napa & Sonoma Counties, with 76,067 acres, 1,955 structures destroyed, 4 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. Litigation reported. Status as of October 1, 2026, per The Press Democrat.
The Valley Fire burned 76,067 acres in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties in September 2015. It destroyed more than 1,950 structures, nearly all of them in Lake County, including 1,280 single family homes, and killed four people.
CAL FIRE traced it to a private home. Investigators found that wiring a homeowner had installed for a hot tub overheated at a poor connection and lit dry grass. That makes the Valley Fire unusual among the most destructive California fires: no utility was involved.
Nobody was prosecuted. The Lake County District Attorney convened a grand jury in 2017, which considered involuntary manslaughter and unlawfully causing a fire and recommended no charges. The District Attorney agreed, saying he could not prove recklessness.
We found no lawsuit for damages over the Valley Fire, and no cost recovery suit by the state, although CAL FIRE said at the time that the owners could be liable for firefighting costs of about $57 million. The one court filing reported is the owners' own: in July 2016 they filed papers in Sacramento County Superior Court demanding that CAL FIRE turn over evidence seized from their property. We have not found its outcome.
The California Department of Insurance estimated about $700 million in insured losses from the Valley Fire as of January 2016.
CAL FIRE publishes two counts of structures destroyed: 1,955 on its Top 20 list and 1,958 on its incident page.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2015-09-12 |
| Containment date | 2015-10-15 |
| Region / counties | Lake, Napa, Sonoma |
| Acreage | 76,067 |
| Structures destroyed | 1,955 |
| Structures damaged | 93 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Cause
CAL FIRE announced on August 10, 2016 that the Valley Fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring at a home in Cobb. Its investigation report, case number 15CALNU008670, found that a poor connection on a circuit a homeowner had installed to power a hot tub overheated and ignited dry grass, and that there were no other plausible causes. The property owners publicly disputed the finding. The Lake County District Attorney announced in December 2017 that no criminal charges would be filed. This page does not name the owners.
What happened
The Valley Fire started at about 1:24 PM on September 12, 2015 in Cobb, Lake County, and within hours burned through Cobb, Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake and Anderson Springs. Four CAL FIRE firefighters were burned on the first afternoon after deploying their fire shelters. CAL FIRE counts four civilian deaths; its investigation report also lists a fifth person who was reported missing. The fire burned 76,067 acres and was contained on October 15, 2015. Federal major disaster DR-4240-CA was declared on September 22, 2015, with Lake County designated for Individual Assistance.
Valley Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Valley Fire starts at about 1:24 PM in Cobb, Lake County.
Source: CAL FIRE
Federal major disaster DR-4240-CA is declared for the Valley and Butte fires.
Source: FEMA, Federal Register
CAL FIRE records the fire as contained.
Source: CAL FIRE
The Department of Insurance estimates about $700 million in insured losses from the Valley Fire.
The owners of the property where the fire began file papers in Sacramento County Superior Court seeking evidence held by CAL FIRE, as reported on August 12.
Source: The Press Democrat
CAL FIRE announces that faulty hot tub wiring at a home in Cobb caused the fire.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
The Lake County District Attorney announces that no criminal charges will be filed.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Litigation status
Litigation reported. Status as of October 1, 2026, per The Press Democrat.
We found no lawsuit seeking damages for losses in the Valley Fire and no cost recovery action by CAL FIRE or the Attorney General. The one court filing reported is by the owners of the property where CAL FIRE says the fire began. The Press Democrat reported on August 12, 2016 that they had filed legal papers in Sacramento County Superior Court on July 27, 2016 demanding that CAL FIRE turn over evidence seized from the property, and that they disputed CAL FIRE's account of how the fire started. No case number was published and we have not found a ruling. CAL FIRE said in August 2016 that the owners could be liable for the cost of fighting the fire, reported as $57 million; we found no record that a suit to recover it was filed. On the criminal side, the Lake County District Attorney announced on December 19, 2017 that no charges would be filed, after a grand jury considered charges of involuntary manslaughter and unlawfully causing a fire with great bodily injury and recommended against them. We searched the Press Democrat, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS, KCRA and KTVU archives and federal court records on CourtListener. The Lake County and Sacramento County superior court indexes were not searched directly.
A reported court filing is not a finding against anyone, and the absence of a damages lawsuit in our search is not a finding that none exists. Nothing here describes any individual situation.
Court & regulatory record
- Valley Incident damage inspection report, archived copy , CAL FIRE (Case CALNU008670)
- Valley and Butte fires cause an estimated $1 billion in insurance losses (January 25, 2016) , California Department of Insurance
- California; Major Disaster and Related Determinations, FEMA-4240-DR , Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Register
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 | 76,067 | CAL FIRE, October 24, 2022 |
| Structures destroyed, Top 20 list | 1,955 | CAL FIRE, August 4, 2026 |
| Structures destroyed, incident page | 1,958 | CAL FIRE, October 24, 2022 |
| Structures damaged | 93 | CAL FIRE, October 24, 2022 |
| Deaths | 4 | CAL FIRE, August 4, 2026 |
| Insured losses, Valley Fire | About $700 million | California Department of Insurance, January 25, 2016 |
| Insurance claims received, Valley and Butte fires together | 5,600 | California Department of Insurance, January 25, 2016 |
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Valley Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- Sep 12, 202510 years after the Valley Fire, Lake County agencies to bring community together to celebrate resilienceThe Press Democrat
- Aug 30, 2021Lessons from 2015 Valley fire saved lives in Cache fire, authorities sayThe Press Democrat
- Dec 20, 2017Lake County District Attorney won’t prosecute landowners blamed for destructive Valley fireThe Press Democrat
- Dec 19, 2017No charges for men accused of igniting massive Valley Fire in Lake CountySan Francisco Chronicle
- Sep 11, 2016A year later, Valley fire’s massive toll in Lake County means long, difficult recovery aheadThe Press Democrat
- Aug 15, 2016Valley Fire Cause: Homeowner Where Fire Started Suing Cal Fire Over EvidenceCBS News San Francisco
- Aug 12, 2016Lake County homeowner blamed for Valley fire faults state investigationThe Press Democrat
- Aug 10, 2016Homeowner’s faulty hot tub wiring sparked massive Valley fire in Lake CountyThe Press Democrat
- Aug 10, 2016Hot tub wiring identified as cause of devastating Valley FireSan Francisco Chronicle
- Aug 10, 2016Cal Fire: Cause of deadly Valley Fire was bad electrical connectionKCRA
Common questions about the Valley Fire
What caused the Valley Fire?
CAL FIRE announced on August 10, 2016 that the Valley Fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring at a home in Cobb. Its investigation report, case number 15CALNU008670, found that a poor connection on a circuit a homeowner had installed to power a hot tub overheated and ignited dry grass, and that there were no other plausible causes. The property owners publicly disputed the finding. The Lake County District Attorney announced in December 2017 that no criminal charges would be filed. This page does not name the owners.
Is there litigation over the Valley Fire?
Litigation reported. Status as of October 1, 2026, per The Press Democrat.
What areas did the Valley Fire affect?
The Valley Fire (Lake, Napa & Sonoma Counties) affected communities including Cobb, Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake, Anderson Springs, Loch Lomond.
How large was the Valley Fire?
76,067 acres, 1,955 structures destroyed, 4 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
What caused the Valley Fire?
CAL FIRE determined that the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County, California was caused by faulty electrical wiring at a home in Cobb: a poor connection on a circuit a homeowner installed to power a hot tub overheated and ignited dry grass. CAL FIRE announced the finding on August 10, 2016.
Was anyone charged over the Valley Fire?
No. The Lake County District Attorney announced on December 19, 2017 that no criminal charges would be filed over the 2015 Valley Fire. A grand jury had considered involuntary manslaughter and unlawfully causing a fire and recommended against charges.
Is there a Valley Fire lawsuit?
We found no lawsuit for damages over the 2015 Valley Fire as of October 1, 2026. The one reported court filing was by the owners of the property where the fire began, who in July 2016 asked the Sacramento County Superior Court to order CAL FIRE to turn over evidence.
How many homes did the Valley Fire destroy?
CAL FIRE's investigation report says the 2015 Valley Fire destroyed 1,280 single family homes, 27 multiple residences, 66 commercial properties and 585 other structures. Its Top 20 list gives 1,955 structures destroyed and its incident page 1,958. The fire burned 76,067 acres.
How many people died in the Valley Fire?
CAL FIRE counts four civilian deaths in the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County, California. Its investigation report also lists a fifth person who was reported missing, and some news reports say five people died.
Sources
- Valley Fire incident record, CAL FIRE
- Valley Incident damage inspection report, archived copy, CAL FIRE
- Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires and annual statistics, linked from CAL FIRE Statistics, CAL FIRE
- Valley and Butte fires cause an estimated $1 billion in insurance losses, California Department of Insurance
- Major disaster declaration FEMA-4240-DR, Federal Register
- Hot tub wiring identified as cause of devastating Valley Fire, San Francisco Chronicle
- No charges for men accused of igniting massive Valley Fire in Lake County, San Francisco Chronicle
- Lake County homeowner blamed for Valley fire faults state investigation, The Press Democrat
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.