SDG&E and City of San Diego Reach $27 Million Widlfire Settlement

A $27 million settlement was reached Tuesday stemming from two wildfires that ravaged San Diego County in 2007.

The settlement resolves the lawsuit filed by the city of San Diego against San Diego Gas & Electric arising from the 2007 Witch and Guejito wildfires. burned in the Witch Creek fire.

Without admitting fault or liability, SDG&E will pay the City $27 million under terms of the settlement.

The City’s losses included fire emergency response costs, loss of lease revenue, and damage to City structures, including the City’s reservoir and ecological/habitat damage.

“The City and SDG&E agree the settlement fairly resolves the litigation between them and that it is in the best interests of both parties and the public,” according to a joint media statement.

The City of Poway did not join the litigation against SDG&E.

The Witch Fire, the second-largest wildfire in California history, started near Santa Ysabel on Oct. 21, 2007, and spread to other areas in northern and eastern San Diego County.

The Guejito fire started shortly thereafter in the early morning hours of Oct. 22, 2007, and subsequently merged with the Witch Fire.

-City News Service