$57 Million, 70K-Acre Valley Fire Started By Faulty Hot-Tub Connection: Cal Fire

NORTH BAY, CA – Investigators have determined that the fatal Valley Fire in 2015 was caused by a faulty electrical connection set up to power a hot tub at a home in the unincorporated Lake County community of Cobb, Cal Fire announced Wednesday.

The Valley Fire was the third most destructive California wildfire in recorded history. It burned 70,067 acres, causing four civilian fatalities, seriously injuring four firefighters, and destroying 1,955 structures.

The fire cost nearly $57 million to extinguish.

The blaze, which was reported behind 8015 High Valley Road on September 12, 2015, was caused by "thermal-resistance heating at the wire nut due to a poor electrical connection," according to Cal Fire's investigation.

John Pinch, the owner of the property where the vegetation fire was reported, admitted to installing the circuit to power a hot tub located on his home's side porch.

The circuit connection was not up to the National Electrical Code Standards, according to the investigation. The final report can be found at calfire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_firereports.

Also see: Geyserville Woman Arrested For Allegedly Lighting 13 Small Fires In Sonoma County

And updates from fires burning in the region this week:

• Soberanes Fire Day 20: Containment Holding Steady At 50%
• Cold Fire Day 9: Containment at 97%; Consumed Acreage Holds Steady

Previous coverage of Valley Fire:

• Wineries Raise $100K For Valley Fire Victims
• Valley Fire: “Huge Destruction. Homes Destroyed Will Be in Hundreds”
• Valley Fire Roars Through 40,000 Acres in 12 Hours
• Exhaustion, Desperation, Humor at Calistoga Evacuation Center

--Bay City News/Photos via Al Francis