In a significant step toward wildfire accountability, Portland-based utility giant PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to the U.S. government to settle claims tied to six destructive wildfires that scorched nearly 290,000 acres of federal land in Oregon and California from 2020 to 2022.

The settlement, announced today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, addresses allegations that the company’s electrical lines negligently sparked the fires, although PacifiCorp denies liability.

This deal represents one of the largest federal wildfire recoveries ever and pushes PacifiCorp’s total payouts for the 2020 Labor Day fires beyond $2.2 billion. The funds will reimburse massive firefighting expenses and aid restoration by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, crucial as wildfire suppression now devours over half of the Forest Service’s budget annually.

Echo Mountain Complex Fire’s Devastation in Lincoln County

For those of us here in Lincoln County the settlement hits especially close to home with the Echo Mountain Complex Fire, which ignited on September 7, 2020, near Otis and ultimately burned about 2,500 acres, including federal lands. Fueled by ferocious east winds and tinder-dry conditions, the blaze ripped through Otis, Salmon River, Neotsu, and threatened Lincoln City, destroying nearly 300 homes and over 300 structures—devastating about one-third of Otis.

The scene was apocalyptic: a darkened city shrouded in thick smoke, with hazy red and orange skies turning day into an eerie, perpetual twilight. Ash rained down like snow, and the air was choked with the acrid smell of burning forest. Power outages plunged much of the area into darkness, amplifying the sense of chaos as the fire advanced.

Mass evacuations unfolded under these conditions, with thousands fleeing south along Highway 101 in bumper-to-bumper traffic amid road closures, while Highway 18 east of Otis remained blocked. Some in the East Devils Lake area were even evacuated by boat as embers flew and visibility dropped to near zero.

In Neotsu, local heroes like the Knott Brothers (Ryan and Nathan) took matters into their own hands, using personal water tenders and equipment to fight spot fires and protect properties—often arriving before official crews could.

Firefighters made a critical stand near Devil’s Lake in Lincoln City, stopping the blaze’s westward push after it crossed East Devils Lake Road and ignited a brush lot at the lake’s north end. Embers reached as far as the Chinook Winds golf course, but determined efforts prevented it from engulfing more of the city.

Amid the evacuation and darkened, smoke-filled streets, opportunistic crime emerged in isolated incidents. Notably, on September 10, 2020, while the area was under a Level 3 mandatory evacuation order due to the Echo Mountain Complex Fire, Lincoln City Police responded to a report of a broken window and a man inside Grocery Outlet. Power was out, making the store dark and difficult to navigate. Officers, assisted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team, located the suspect, Christian Martin Berry, sitting on the floor at the south end of the store, drinking beer from an aisle and listening to music on his cell phone. After refusing commands, he was taken into custody following a brief resistance. Officers used a WRAP restraint device to carry him out through the broken front door. Berry was arrested on charges including Burglary II, Criminal Mischief II, Criminal Trespass II, Interfering with a Peace Officer, and Theft I (enhanced for occurring during an emergency in a fire-affected area).

This incident highlighted the added strain on law enforcement during the crisis, with increased patrols in evacuated zones to prevent such opportunistic acts. While rumors of widespread looting circulated, authorities stressed these were limited cases, quickly addressed to maintain order.

These personal accounts from those who lived through it, like the darkened city full of smoke where looters were busted by police, underscore the fear, uncertainty, and community vigilance during those days. Recovery has been slow but steady, with groups like #OtisStrong leading rebuilding efforts. The settlement’s restoration funds could help rehabilitate scorched public lands and support ongoing environmental and community healing.

The Other Oregon Fires

The agreement also covers three additional Oregon wildfires from the 2020 Labor Day outbreak:

• 242 Fire: Started September 7, 2020, near Chiloquin in Klamath County, burning 8,916 acres of federal land.
• Archie Creek Fire: Ignited September 8, 2020, in the Umpqua National Forest near French Creek, scorching 67,000 acres. Dramatic images show intense flames consuming dense forests under extreme conditions.
• South Obenchain Fire: Began September 8, 2020, east of Eagle Point in Jackson County, consuming 14,780 acres.

These fires strained resources across southern and central Oregon, with Archie Creek ranking among the state’s largest that year.

California Blazes Included

The settlement extends to two California fires:

• Slater Fire: Sparked September 8, 2020, in the Klamath National Forest, incinerating 157,229 acres across multiple national forests.
• McKinney Fire: Erupted July 29, 2022, near the Klamath National Forest, destroying 39,000 acres.

Statements from Officials and PacifiCorp

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson noted the agreement “ensures fair compensation to the American taxpayer for fire-related damages without preventing PacifiCorp from offering electricity at fair prices.”

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford added, “Wildfires remain a recurring threat to our natural resources, the safety of our communities, and their economic well-being. Recouping the costs associated with these wildfires is a priority.”

PacifiCorp’s President of Pacific Power, Ryan Flynn, described it as “another significant milestone demonstrating our ongoing commitment to resolve all reasonable claims related to the devastating fires that affected Oregon and California.” The company, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary headquartered in Portland, continues to deny responsibility.