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PG&E charged with manslaughter for California fire

Prosecutors have charged PG&E with four counts of manslaughter and other felonies over a deadly wildfire.

The Shasta County District Attorney in Northern California alleged Friday that the power utility had failed to cut down a sickly pine tree that fell onto power lines and sparked a massive wildfire.

The DA said that tree had been identified as dangerous three years ago and that the company had a legal responsibility to remove it. The fire, which started nearly a year ago, killed four people, destroyed over 200 structures and burned more than 56,000 acres.

PG&E accepted the finding by Cal Fire officials that the falling tree had started the fire but denied it was criminally liable. Its CEO said two arborists had determined the tree could stay.