The flames from the Dixie Fire spread throughout the Greenville community in Plumas County. AP Photo/Noah Berger Dixie Fire is the largest wildfire in California's historyThe Dixie Fire, which is currently burning in two Northern California counties, is the largest single wildfire ever recorded in state history. It exploded in size overnight as drought-stricken areas continue to fuel it.On Thursday, the fire that raged for 23 days forced evacuations. It destroyed 91 buildings and damaged five more. The smoke from the fire has reached lower parts of Northern California including Sacramento, the capital of the state. Friday's "unhealthy" air quality index was at its highest level.This worrying development is not only a reflection of the dire consequences of climate change, neglected forest management, and also the fact that the electric grid continues to be prone wildfires. Last month, Pacific Gas & Electric revealed that its equipment could have contributed to the devastating fire.The Dixie Fire looks very similar to the 2018 Camp Fire. This fire was sparked by PG&E and started less than 10 miles from each other in Feather Canyon, a densely wooded area with decrepit transmission cables.The Camp Fire destroyed nearly 19,000 structures in Paradise, Concow and killed 85 people. PG&E was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the blaze. The utility pleaded guilty last summer to manslaughter charges in connection with the disaster.According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Dixie Fire had already burned 432,813 acres and only 35 percent of its total area. Although the blaze's overnight growth earned it the unfortunate distinction of being the state's largest single-fire fire, it still ranks behind two other multi-fire conflagrations.Lightning-ignited 2020 August Complex blazed over 1,000,000 acres in seven counties. The 2018 Mendocino Complex blazed more than 459,000 acres across four counties. This was the result of a man trying with a stake and hammer to stop a wasp from nesting.The Shasta County District Attorney stated last week that PG&E was "criminally liable for the 2020 Zogg Fire, which claimed the lives of four people and burned more than 56,000 acres. The formal complaint in this case will be filed by September's end. In connection with the 2019 Kincade Fire, which burned 78,000 acres and left four people injured, the Sonoma County DA hit PG&E earlier in the year with emissions and fire-starting charges.Progressives are reiterating their calls for PG&E accountability after the Dixie Fire. Reclaim Our Power members flooded the telephone lines of Thursday's California Public Utilities Commission meeting, urging the agency to improve oversight and enforce the company's policies. Activists want the commission also to revoke PG&E’s safety certificate which is required for access to the $21 billion wildfire insurance fund.The firefighters trying to put out the flame are still being challenged by high winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures. Although Cal Fire has not officially announced the cause of the Dixie Fire, the Butte County DA and Plumas County DA are investigating PG&E.
