Podcast Summary: California’s Wildfires Not Caused by Climate Change

Full Measure After Hours with Sharyl Attkisson
Date: January 22, 2026
Guest: Mike Ramsey, Butte County District Attorney

Main Theme & Purpose

Sharyl Attkisson's episode challenges the prevailing narrative that California's devastating wildfires are primarily driven by climate change. Through an in-depth interview with Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, who prosecuted Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for the infamous 2018 Camp Fire, the discussion explores the actual causes of major California wildfires. The conversation sheds light on the roles of negligent utility companies, inadequate vegetation management, infrastructure decay, and arsonists—while explicitly arguing that climate change is often incorrectly cited as a primary factor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Real Causes of Major California Wildfires

• Repeat Offenders:

  • Arsonists and negligent power companies are underscored as the leading sources of California’s high-profile wildfires, not climate change.
    (00:12)
  • “Each time you hear about climate change being a cause or major factor behind this rash of wildfires in California, it belies the actual facts on the ground.” – Sharyl Attkisson (00:38)

• PG&E’s Role and History of Negligence:

  • Mike Ramsey explains a long history of PG&E’s failure to clear vegetation around their power lines, often outsourcing to unreliable and cheap contractors.
    (01:52)
  • “PG&E had a bit of a bad history here… It was being farmed out to contractors, vendors that weren’t too reputable. They were cheap.” – Mike Ramsey (02:24)

Anatomy of the Camp Fire (2018)

• How the Fire Started:

  • On the morning of the fire, faulty PG&E equipment—a nearly 100-year-old C hook—failed, sparking a blaze that swept through multiple communities, destroying nearly 18,000 structures and killing 84 people.
    (03:04, 11:57)
  • “It was an absolute monster. Destroyed so many. About 18,000 structures. 14,000 family homes. Displaced 27,000 people, killed 84 souls.” – Mike Ramsey (03:18)
  • The failed component “had been in that location for we figured, 98 years.” – Mike Ramsey (11:53)

• Investigative Approach:

  • Cal Fire promptly determined the fire’s cause was PG&E’s negligence, shifting focus from possible arson to corporate culpability.
    (04:34)
  • A rigorous investigation was launched to treat the site as a crime scene, with special measures to prevent evidence tampering by PG&E.
    (06:05)

Legal Prosecution & Obstacles

• Obstruction and Overwhelm Tactics:

  • PG&E initially responded to evidence requests with huge data dumps to overwhelm investigators and provided legal counsel to every employee involved, further complicating testimonies.
    (07:23, 08:01)
  • “It was terabytes of information… I think initially the, the initial tranche was around three terabytes.” – Mike Ramsey (08:01)
  • “Everyone that had any contact with PG&E, including a dead employee, was given attorneys by PG&E…” (08:53)

• Criminal Charges and Penalties:

  • PG&E was charged with reckless arson (with enhancements for injuries) and 84 counts of manslaughter.
    (09:30)
  • Yet the penalties were minimal compared to the loss: $3.5 million in total fines, which Ramsey describes as “peanuts.”
    (15:10)
  • The structure of the company (internal "siloing") and California law made it impossible to criminally prosecute a specific executive unless they were “hands on.”
    (10:53, 11:53)

• Civil Litigation & Bankruptcy:

  • Civil lawsuits also arose, but PG&E shielded itself through bankruptcy, limiting restitution. Ultimately, a $13.5 billion payout, covering multiple fires, was approved, but individuals often received slow or limited compensation.
    (15:37, 18:30)

Wildfire Aftermath and Recovery Challenges

• Slow Rebuilding and Community Impact:

  • The Paradise community, with many older residents, faced a slow recovery. Toxic debris complicated rebuilding efforts and led many to relocate permanently.
    (19:47)
  • “I can’t wait years to start my life again…” – Mike Ramsey (22:05)

• PTSD and Loss:

  • Significant psychological trauma affected both survivors and first responders, with harrowing stories of last moments.
    (24:15)
  • “The most horrible way you could imagine to die is to burn to death. I listened to the grandmother… a mother and her daughter die on a 911 tape as a fire consumed them.” – Mike Ramsey (25:03)

New Solutions and Lessons

• Infrastructure Changes:
  • After legal action, PG&E began burying power lines, a much safer but more costly solution they’d previously rejected on expense grounds.
    (23:07)
  • Attkisson and Ramsey note that buried lines dramatically reduce wildfire risk and facilitate safer evacuation routes.
    (23:14)
  • “After the campfire they found out what expensive is and they have now started putting lines underground. It’s expensive… a lot less expensive than paying for the destruction…” – Mike Ramsey (22:53)

Broader Message and Media Narrative

• Media often defaults to climate change explanations.
• The actual causes, repeatedly observed on the ground and in courtrooms, are human factors: neglected infrastructure, failed maintenance, and deliberate arson.
• Real accountability, Ramsey argues, comes only when corporations face criminal—not just civil—consequences.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Each time you hear about climate change being a cause or major factor behind this rash of wildfires in California, it belies the actual facts on the ground.”
  – Sharyl Attkisson (00:38)

• “It was an absolute monster. Destroyed so many. About 18,000 structures…killed 84 souls.”
  – Mike Ramsey (03:18)

• “PG&E had done a very good job over the years… of siloing people and siloing organizations… it became somewhat clear… we couldn’t find that person at the top.”
  – Mike Ramsey (10:53)

• “The hook that failed had been in that location for we figured, 98 years.”
  – Mike Ramsey (11:53)

• “You killed 84 of my citizens. I don’t give a damn about your company dying or not. Perhaps it deserves to die.”
  – Mike Ramsey (17:55)

• “The most horrible way you could imagine to die is to burn to death. I listened to the grandmother… a mother and her daughter die on a 911 tape as a fire consumed them.”
  – Mike Ramsey (25:03)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Framing
  00:00 – 01:05

• On Utility Negligence in Wildfires
  01:20 – 02:56

• The Camp Fire: Timeline and Destruction
  03:04 – 04:33

• Investigation and Criminal Case
  05:03 – 08:53

• Legal Strategies, Charges, Outcome
  09:30 – 15:34

• Role of Civil Litigation and Bankruptcy
  15:34 – 19:27

• Consequences for Victims and Community
  19:39 – 22:16

• Infrastructure Solutions (Buried Lines)
  22:53 – 23:57

• Broader Lessons & Personal Impact
  24:15 – 25:24

Overall Tone & Language

The episode is investigative and resolutely factual, with a tone of frustration toward systemic negligence and corporate evasiveness. Both host and guest emphasize the tragic and preventable nature of recent California wildfires. There is a strong call for more accurate media reporting and accountability, combined with sobering accounts of personal and community trauma.