A lawsuit filed in Ferry County Superior Court by Washington's Department of Natural Resources alleges Avista Corporation did not take care of trees and brush surrounding power lines, which ultimately led to the start of 4,000-acre wildfire that destroyed several homes.
The "Boyd's Fire" started August 11, 2018 and was caused by "hazardous dead ponderosa pine tree that collapsed onto electrical lines owned, maintained and operated by Avista," according to the lawsuit.
Washington's Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, and Assistant Attorney General, Paul James, represent the DNR.
Avista had a duty to operate and maintain overhead electrical lines in a safe and responsible manner and that the power company has a duty to perform vegetation management to remove any hazard trees that threatened electrical lines, the lawsuit contends.