Advertisement

Faulty hot tub wiring caused 2015 California wildfire that killed four people

By Shawn Price
The burned remains of houses and vehicles sit destroyed by the Valley Fire in Middletown, Calif., on September 14, 2015. A Cal Fire report released Wednesday indicates faulty wiring in a hot tub sparked the blaze. File Photo by Mathew Sumner/UPI
1 of 4 | The burned remains of houses and vehicles sit destroyed by the Valley Fire in Middletown, Calif., on September 14, 2015. A Cal Fire report released Wednesday indicates faulty wiring in a hot tub sparked the blaze. File Photo by Mathew Sumner/UPI | License Photo

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Faulty do-it-yourself wiring in a hot tub was found to be the cause of one of the worst wildfires in California history, fire officials said Wednesday.

After an 11-month investigation, Cal Fire found the faulty wiring of a couple's hot tub in the tiny town of Cobb to be the cause of the 2015 Valley Fire, which scorched 76,000 acres, killed four people, injured four firefighters and destroyed 1,280 homes northeast of San Francisco.

Advertisement

Cal Fire officials said the man admitted installing the wiring and knew that it wasn't working correctly.

"There was rumors floating around about the cause of the fire. There was rumors that it was a pot farm, a hash oil lab, a meth lab, somebody intentionally starting the fire," said a Cal Fire spokesperson.

The fire destroyed a New Age retreat as well as a resort spa in Middletown and caused at least $1.5 billion in total property damage in a town that already had high unemployment.

Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott told reporters the report is being given to the Lake County District Attorney's Office to determine if there was criminal wrongdoing. It is unknown if charges will be filed.

Advertisement

The man Cal Fire identified as homeowner John Pinch, 65, said he's not certain if his hot tub is the source of the fire.

"Whether it was caused by the wiring is still in question," Pinch told the Sacramento Bee. "None of us were here when the fire broke out so we don't know what happened. ... I haven't seen the [Cal Fire] report or the evidence."

Latest Headlines