The Witch Fire (2007) was a California wildfire in San Diego County, with 197,990 acres, 1,650 structures destroyed, 2 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per Sempra Energy Form 10-K, filed with the SEC.
The Witch Fire, often called the Witch Creek Fire, burned 197,990 acres of San Diego County in October and November 2007. It ran from the backcountry east of Ramona to the suburbs of the City of San Diego in less than a day.
Every legal question about it has been answered, and the answers took twelve years. CAL FIRE named SDG&E power lines as the cause in 2008. The utility then spent about $2.4 billion resolving claims from this fire and two others that started the same week, the Guejito and Rice fires. It settled with state regulators in 2010 without admitting a violation.
The last fight was over who would pay. SDG&E asked to charge its customers $379 million of those costs. The Public Utilities Commission said no in 2017, and every court that was asked, ending with the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2019, left that decision in place.
The numbers below need one caution. The $2.4 billion covers three fires together, and no public source breaks out the Witch Fire alone. CAL FIRE also publishes two structure counts: 1,711 on its incident page and 1,650 on its Top 20 lists. The regulator counted 1,141 homes and 509 outbuildings, which adds to 1,650.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2007-10-21 |
| Containment date | 2007-11-06 |
| Region / counties | San Diego |
| Acreage | 197,990 |
| Structures destroyed | 1,650 |
| Structures damaged | 25 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Public settlement information | SDG&E incurred about $2.4 billion in costs and legal fees resolving third-party claims from the Witch, Guejito and Rice fires together. Published components include $686 million to insurers in June 2009 and $6,429,736 to the United States in September 2012. No figure for the Witch Fire alone has been published. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Cause
CAL FIRE determined that a fault on a San Diego Gas & Electric 69 kV transmission line on October 21, 2007 caused the lines to arc, dropping hot particles into the grass below and starting the Witch Fire. Its report is dated July 9, 2008. A second fire, the Guejito Fire, was reported near Escondido early on October 22 and merged with the Witch Fire; CAL FIRE attributed that ignition to a Cox Communications lashing wire touching an SDG&E 12 kV conductor. In 2017 the California Public Utilities Commission found that SDG&E had not reasonably managed and operated its facilities before the fires. SDG&E has not admitted fault and has said the fires occurred due to circumstances beyond its control.
What happened
The Witch Fire started at 12:35 PM on October 21, 2007 in the Witch Creek area east of Ramona and was driven west by Santa Ana winds. The entire town of Ramona, about 36,000 residents, was evacuated. The fire reached Rancho Bernardo, inside the City of San Diego, the next morning, after merging with the Guejito Fire. The City of San Diego describes the result as the largest evacuation in county history, with more than 500,000 people living in the evacuated areas, 200,000 of them in the city. CAL FIRE recorded containment on November 6, 2007 at 197,990 acres, with two civilian deaths.
Witch Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Witch Fire starts at 12:35 PM in the Witch Creek area east of Ramona.
Source: CAL FIRE
The Guejito Fire is reported near Escondido and merges with the Witch Fire, which burns into Rancho Bernardo.
The entire town of Ramona, about 36,000 residents, is evacuated.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Federal major disaster DR-1731-CA is declared.
Source: FEMA
CAL FIRE records the fire as contained at 197,990 acres.
Source: CAL FIRE
It is reported that CAL FIRE found SDG&E power lines started the Witch and Rice fires and a Cox wire touching an SDG&E line started the Guejito Fire.
Source: KPBS
CPUC safety staff file their report on the three fires, alleging General Order 95 violations.
SDG&E agrees to pay insurers $686 million, without acknowledging fault.
Source: Reuters
The CPUC approves settlements closing its enforcement investigations: SDG&E pays $14,350,000 and Cox pays $2,000,000.
Cox Communications settles with SDG&E, which is to receive about $444 million.
SDG&E agrees to pay the United States $6,429,736 for federal land damage and firefighting costs.
SDG&E asks the CPUC to let it recover $379 million of wildfire costs from customers.
The CPUC denies the request, finding SDG&E did not reasonably manage its facilities before the fires.
The CPUC denies rehearing.
The California Court of Appeal denies SDG&E's petition.
The California Supreme Court denies review.
The U.S. Supreme Court denies the petition, leaving the CPUC decision in place.
Litigation status
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per Sempra Energy Form 10-K, filed with the SEC.
Property owners, insurers and public entities sued SDG&E and its parent, Sempra Energy, in San Diego County Superior Court over the Witch, Guejito and Rice fires. In October 2010 the Court of Appeal affirmed that the claims had to proceed as individual lawsuits and not as class actions. In June 2009 SDG&E agreed to pay insurers $686 million, without acknowledging fault. On December 13, 2010 Cox Communications settled with SDG&E, which was to receive about $444 million. On September 17, 2012 SDG&E agreed to pay the United States $6,429,736 for damage to federal land and for federal firefighting costs. The California Public Utilities Commission later put the total at $2.4 billion in costs and legal fees for all three fires, of which $1.1 billion was covered by liability insurance and $824 million came from Cox and three contractors. Sempra reported in its annual report for 2019 that SDG&E has resolved all litigation associated with the three fires. On the regulatory side, the Commission closed its enforcement investigations on April 22, 2010 in Decision 10-04-047: SDG&E paid $14,350,000 to the state General Fund and Cox paid $2,000,000, with no admission of a violation. SDG&E then asked to recover $379 million from customers. The Commission denied that request on November 30, 2017 in Decision 17-11-033 and denied rehearing on July 12, 2018. The California Court of Appeal denied review on November 13, 2018, the California Supreme Court on January 30, 2019, and the U.S. Supreme Court on October 7, 2019.
Resolved means that matters over this fire have been settled or closed on the public record. It says nothing about any individual situation.
Court & regulatory record
- Decision 17-11-033, denying SDG&E recovery of 2007 wildfire costs (November 30, 2017) , California Public Utilities Commission (Case A.15-09-010)
- Decision 18-07-025, order denying rehearing (July 12, 2018) , California Public Utilities Commission (Case A.15-09-010)
- Decision 10-04-047, approving settlements of the enforcement investigations (April 22, 2010) , California Public Utilities Commission (Case I.08-11-006 and I.08-11-007)
- Report of the Consumer Protection and Safety Division regarding the Guejito, Witch and Rice fires (September 2, 2008) , California Public Utilities Commission
- Docket: San Diego Gas & Electric Company v. California Public Utilities Commission , Supreme Court of the United States (Case 18-1368)
- SDG&E pays United States $6.4 million for Witch Creek Fire damages (September 17, 2012) , U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California
- Form 8-K, settlement of Cox Communications wildfire claims (December 13, 2010) , Sempra Energy and SDG&E, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K for 2019, 2007 wildfire litigation , Sempra Energy and SDG&E, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Acres burned | 197,990 | CAL FIRE, November 6, 2007 |
| Structures destroyed, incident page | 1,711 | CAL FIRE, November 6, 2007 |
| Structures destroyed, Top 20 lists | 1,650 | CAL FIRE, August 4, 2026 |
| Homes destroyed | 1,141, plus 509 outbuildings | California Public Utilities Commission, Decision 17-11-033, November 30, 2017 |
| Costs to resolve claims, three fires together | $2.4 billion | California Public Utilities Commission, Decision 17-11-033, November 30, 2017 |
| Paid to insurers | $686 million | Reuters, June 26, 2009 |
| Received by SDG&E from Cox Communications | About $444 million | Sempra Energy Form 8-K, December 13, 2010 |
| Paid to the United States | $6,429,736 | U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California, September 17, 2012 |
| CPUC enforcement settlement, SDG&E | $14,350,000 | California Public Utilities Commission, Decision 10-04-047, April 22, 2010 |
| Customer recovery sought and denied | $379 million | California Public Utilities Commission, Decision 17-11-033, November 30, 2017 |
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Witch Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- Oct 8, 2019U.S. Supreme Court rejects SDG&E wildfire cost appealABC 10News San Diego
- Oct 7, 2019U.S. Supreme Court rejects SDG&E appeal to pass $379 million in wildfire costs to ratepayersSan Diego Union-Tribune
- Oct 7, 2019U.S. Supreme Court rejects dispute over 2007 California wildfire payoutsReuters
- Oct 7, 2019Supreme Court Denies SDG&E Appeal To Have Ratepayers Pay $379M For 2007 WildfiresKPBS
- Nov 14, 2018Court denies SDG&E appeal; utility wanted customers to pay $379M for 2007 wildfire costsSan Diego Union-Tribune
- Nov 30, 2017CPUC rules against SDG&E in 2007 wildfire caseSan Diego Union-Tribune
- Jul 10, 2008SDG&E, Cox Power Lines Blamed for 2007 Fires in San DiegoKPBS
Common questions about the Witch Fire
What caused the Witch Fire?
CAL FIRE determined that a fault on a San Diego Gas & Electric 69 kV transmission line on October 21, 2007 caused the lines to arc, dropping hot particles into the grass below and starting the Witch Fire. Its report is dated July 9, 2008. A second fire, the Guejito Fire, was reported near Escondido early on October 22 and merged with the Witch Fire; CAL FIRE attributed that ignition to a Cox Communications lashing wire touching an SDG&E 12 kV conductor. In 2017 the California Public Utilities Commission found that SDG&E had not reasonably managed and operated its facilities before the fires. SDG&E has not admitted fault and has said the fires occurred due to circumstances beyond its control.
Is there litigation over the Witch Fire?
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per Sempra Energy Form 10-K, filed with the SEC.
What areas did the Witch Fire affect?
The Witch Fire (San Diego County) affected communities including Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, San Pasqual Valley, Santa Ysabel, Witch Creek.
How large was the Witch Fire?
197,990 acres, 1,650 structures destroyed, 2 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
When did the Witch Creek Fire start?
The Witch Fire, also called the Witch Creek Fire, started at 12:35 PM on October 21, 2007 in the Witch Creek area east of Ramona in San Diego County, California. CAL FIRE recorded it as contained on November 6, 2007, at 197,990 acres.
What caused the 2007 Witch Creek Fire?
CAL FIRE determined that the 2007 Witch Fire in San Diego County was started by arcing on a San Diego Gas & Electric 69 kV transmission line on October 21, 2007. Its report is dated July 9, 2008. SDG&E has not admitted fault.
How much did SDG&E pay for the 2007 San Diego wildfires?
San Diego Gas & Electric incurred about $2.4 billion in costs and legal fees to resolve claims from the 2007 Witch, Guejito and Rice fires together, according to the California Public Utilities Commission. About $1.1 billion was covered by liability insurance and $824 million came from Cox Communications and three contractors. No figure for the Witch Fire alone has been published.
Did SDG&E customers pay for the 2007 wildfire costs?
SDG&E asked to charge customers $379 million of its 2007 wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission denied the request on November 30, 2017. The California Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court and, on October 7, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court all declined to disturb that decision. Separately, federal regulators allowed some recovery through transmission rates.
How many homes burned in the Witch Creek Fire?
The California Public Utilities Commission recorded 1,141 homes and 509 outbuildings destroyed in the 2007 Witch Fire, which matches the 1,650 structures on CAL FIRE's Top 20 lists. CAL FIRE's incident page lists 1,711 structures destroyed and 25 damaged.
How many people were evacuated in the 2007 San Diego fires?
The City of San Diego says the 2007 Witch Creek and Guejito fires triggered the largest evacuation in San Diego County history, with more than 500,000 people living in the evacuated areas, 200,000 of them inside the city.
Sources
- Witch Fire incident record, CAL FIRE
- Top 20 Most Destructive and Top 20 Largest California Wildfires, linked from CAL FIRE Statistics, CAL FIRE
- Decision 17-11-033, California Public Utilities Commission
- Decision 18-07-025, California Public Utilities Commission
- Decision 10-04-047, California Public Utilities Commission
- Docket No. 18-1368, Supreme Court of the United States
- SDG&E pays United States $6.4 million for Witch Creek Fire damages, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California
- Form 8-K, December 13, 2010, Sempra Energy and SDG&E, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K for 2019, Sempra Energy and SDG&E, filed with the SEC
- 2007 Witch Creek and Guejito Fires, City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
- Infernos surge toward coast, San Diego Union-Tribune
- San Diego utility to pay $700 mln in fire claims, Reuters
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.