The McKinney Fire, which consumed nearly 60,000 acres, began on July 29 in the Klamath National Forest near the Oregon border and became California’s largest wildfire of that year. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Siskiyou County, where nearly 3,000 residents were ordered to evacuate.
Frantz Law Group closely monitored developments related to the McKinney Fire and previously evaluated potential claims arising from the disaster. At this time, however, claims related to the McKinney Fire are past the applicable statute of limitations, and Frantz Law Group is no longer accepting new cases related to this wildfire.
Cause of the McKinney Fire
The cause of the McKinney Fire was investigated extensively. NBC News reported that the fire “began underneath a power line circuit that had trouble just hours earlier.” Investigations examined whether utility infrastructure may have played a role in the ignition of the fire.
Although significant attention was given to potential liability issues at the time, the legal deadline to initiate new civil claims related to the McKinney Fire has now expired.
The Mill Fire
The Mill Fire began on September 2 near the Roseburg Forest Products property and was initially reported as a structure fire at the RFP timber mill. According to a spokesperson for Roseburg Forest Products, the company did not know exactly where or how the fire started. Ultimately, 118 structures were destroyed, dozens were damaged, more than 3,900 acres burned, and the fire resulted in civilian injuries and fatalities.
Frantz Law Group previously reviewed allegations related to the Mill Fire, including claims that the fire may have been caused by negligent operational procedures or third-party equipment.
Cause of the Mill Fire
Allegations at the time suggested that negligent operational practices or unsafe procedures may have contributed to the Mill Fire. In certain circumstances, such conduct can raise issues of exemplary or punitive damages if a party knew of a dangerous condition and failed to correct it.
Based on information available during the investigation period, Roseburg Forest Products was identified as the primary allegedly negligent party. These allegations were under review while investigations were ongoing.
Claims related to the Mill Fire are now outside the statute of limitations, and Frantz Law Group is no longer accepting new cases related to this incident.
How Our Attorneys Previously Assisted Wildfire Victims
In active wildfire litigation matters, Frantz Law Group has historically sought recovery of losses not fully covered by insurance, including underinsured rebuilding costs, replacement of personal property, landscaping restoration, annoyance and discomfort damages, and recovery of attorney’s fees where permitted by law.
Our firm has worked with leading forensic engineering and wildfire investigation experts to analyze fire origin and cause. In prior wildfire cases, this approach helped identify responsible parties and pursue accountability when legally permissible.
Important Notice Regarding Legal Representation
Although Frantz Law Group has extensive experience representing wildfire victims throughout California, we are no longer accepting claims related to the McKinney Fire or the Mill Fire due to the expiration of applicable statutes of limitation.
Statutes of limitation impose strict deadlines, and once those deadlines pass, courts generally do not allow new civil wildfire claims to proceed.
Media Coverage (Historical Reference)
For informational and historical purposes, coverage of these fires included:
- ABC Affiliate KRCR regarding McKinney wildfire litigation
- CBS8 News McKinney wildfire lawsuit updates
- San Francisco Chronicle reporting on early Mill Fire litigation allegations
- The Mercury News coverage of Mill Fire wrongful death claims
Our Ongoing Commitment
Frantz Law Group remains committed to representing individuals, families, and businesses affected by current and future wildfires where legal deadlines are still open. If you believe you were impacted by a more recent wildfire event, we encourage you to contact our firm for a free case evaluation to determine eligibility.
