A wood products manufacturer has agreed to settle multiple lawsuits filed against it after a deadly fire that devastated a Northern California town was traced back to the companyâs warehouse, The Sacramento Bee reported.
The Sept. 2 fire burned 3,935 acres, killed two people and destroyed more than 115 buildings in Siskiyou County, Calif. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but investigators have linked it to a wooden warehouse owned by Roseburg Forest Products Co. that was used to store hot ash, according to the report.
More than 1,000 claims were filed against the company, which has reached agreements with four law firms representing a majority of the claimants. Claims included property losses, personal injuries and wrongful death.
"We know we can't bring back loved ones nor the homes that were destroyed, but Roseburg's substantial settlement offers, hopefully, will provide the resources for homeowners to rebuild their houses and the community," Roseburg spokesperson Pete Hillan said in a statement.
Roseburg is based in Oregon but operates a lumber mill in Northern California. The company produces hardwood and softwood plywood, lumber, engineered wood, particleboard, medium density fiberboard and more.
