![]() The messages do not appear to clearly show the two individuals knew power lines had ignited the fires. They reference, but do not call out, the wildfires in the Santiam Canyon that led to a mass evacuation and ultimately burned thousands of homes. The messages included in the court filing make specific reference to the Echo Mountain Fire in the Otis/Lincoln City area and the Slater Fire in the Happy Camp., Calif. ![]() Investigation: ‘Missed opportunity?’ Records detail Forest Service response to Beachie Creek Fire before blowup In previous attempts at reaching comment, PacifiCorp said only that it did not comment on pending litigation. The outcome of the trial will impact anyone harmed by the fires, even if they haven’t taken legal action. Plaintiffs in the case include owners of 2,500 properties burned by the four fires, which in location include the Santiam Canyon, Lincoln City/Otis area and southern Oregon. The lack of a government explanation for what happened sets up a scenario in which the jury trial will lack what would normally be a key piece of evidence in determining who’s at fault for wildfire damage. Two and a half years after they occurred, the official causes of the fires remain “under investigation” by federal and state officials. In previous court filings, the utility called the fires an "unavoidable accident or Act of God.” Pacific Power, which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc., denies the claims. The class action lawsuit, currently scheduled for trial April 24, alleges Pacific Power’s failure to maintain its power lines and shut down power during a historic east wind event led to the ignition of the Santiam Canyon/Beachie Creek, Echo Mountain, 242 and South Obenchain fires. More: Satellite maps show spread of Beachie Creek, Holiday Farm wildfires in Labor Day blowup The messages are included as one exhibit in a motion asking the court to sanction PacifiCorp for “withholding documents about the cause and origin of the fires.” Lawyers suing PacifiCorp allege the utility has not been forthcoming in disclosing all documents and information that would shed light on the causes of the fires. Like the fire is in the transmission corridor.” In another message, referencing what became the Echo Mountain Fire in the Otis/Lincoln City area west of Salem, Grechanuk wrote that “it looks like there is a fire in Lincoln City which also started under our transmission lines.
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