MDEICAL LAKE, Wash. — The power company found responsible for the 2023 Gray Fire denied accountability earlier this month.
A recent investigation by Department of Natural Resources found Inland Power Company responsible for the Gray Fire, which burned thousands of acres of land, destroyed hundreds of homes and killed one person.
Last year, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of victims of the fire against Inland Power, in an attempt to have the company pay for the victims’ damages.
The DNR investigation supported the the lawsuit’s claims.
“We did begin a very early investigation of the fire and that our conclusions were essentially mirrored by DNR, we were not surprised at all,” said John Allsion, lawyer for the Gray Fire victims.
The DNR investigation found the fire was started by an arcing wire on an Inland Power light along Gray Road. Sparks from the light started the fire on nearby grass.
On August 2, Inland Power filed court documents denying the investigation’s claims of negligence.
“The fire was not foreseeable for Inland Power, so they are not accountable,” said a defense lawyer for Inland Power.
The company claimed homeowners were responsible for the damage because they did not take the necessary steps to reduce wildfire risks.
Allsion said he and the victims he represents believe their arguments are well-established.
“We hope that Inland Power Company will step up and take responsibility for what’s happened and not force these families to go to trial in court,” said Allsion.
The trial is set for September 8, 2025.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lawyer briefs Medical Lake community on lawsuit against Inland Power
COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
