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PG&E investigators report no linkage between two power poles and the Dixie Fire.
Inspection records show the poles thought to be the cause of the blaze were not contributing factors. The power company also said an inspection on January 14th showed no issues that needed corrective action between a leaning tree and a power pole. Under investigation in connection with the fire, which has become the second largest in California history,PG&E said its crews conducted routine inspections May 13 of the two power poles located where the fire started and found nothing wrong. The last previous inspection was in December 2016, according to The Sacramento Bee.
At 489,287 acres, the Dixie Fire trails only last year’s August Complex fire, which burned just over 1 million acres. Last week, the Dixie Fire destroyed most of downtown Greenville, a community of about 1,000 people in Plumas County.
PG&E is under intense scrutiny over wildfires and is spending billions of dollars a year to trim tree limbs and take other corrective actions aimed at improving fire safety.