(Reuters) – California’s second largest ever wildfire, which scorched just under 100,000 acres last year, was sparked by a tree coming in contact with cables operated by Pacific Gas and Electric power utility, state authorities said https://files.ctctusercontent.com/fac05d5d601/9a535be5-0634-487a-9cb1-5cdf4a42acc6.pdf?rdr=true on Tuesday.

In a statement submitted to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection stated that the cause of this fire had been identified as west of Cresta Dam.

PG&E (NYSE:) did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Dixie Fire erupted July 13, 2021 and caused damage to 1,329 buildings and 95 others.

In November, PG&E acknowledged that it had received a subpoena from the U.S. attorney’s office seeking documents related to the Dixie Fire, and the Californian utility expected to take a loss of $1.15 billion.

California Public Utilities Commission had voted unanimously in April https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/california-toughens-pge-oversight-over-wildfire-safety-work-2021-04-15 last year to toughen oversight of PG&E, saying the utility had largely failed to perform required tree-trimming work near power lines in areas with the highest risk of wildfires.

PG&E’s equipment also caused a deadly fire in California in 2017 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-fire-idUSKCN1J501C that claimed 46 lives, devastated at least 245,000 acres and incinerated 8,900 homes.

In 2020, the company emerged from bankruptcy. After the wildfires caused by utility equipment in 2017-2018, the company sought creditor protection. This increased its potential liabilities to tens or billions.