As Cal Fire continues its investigation into whether the deadly Wine Country fires were caused by downed power lines, another Northern California blaze has similar hallmarks.
The Cascade Fire near Marysville in Yuba started the night of Oct. 8 during a high wind event, and fire dispatches and officials indicate wires were toppling around the same time that multiple vegetation fires ignited.
At least four people died in that fire, and almost 400 structures have been destroyed. The fire is almost entirely contained now.
A Cal Fire spokeswoman said Tuesday that the wind woke her up in Yuba County on Oct. 8 and that about 40 utility poles were “blown over in the storm.” The official cause of the fire is unknown.
In the half hour before the fire began at 11 p.m., firefighters responded to at least two trees falling into lines — and power lines falling across the road.