A Multnomah County Circuit Court jury in Oregon has ordered PacifiCorp to pay $305 million to 16 wildfire survivors harmed by the Santiam Canyon wildfire, pushing the utility’s total jury-ordered damages past the $1 billion mark. The February 2026 verdict marks the 15th trial to conclude in a sprawling class-action lawsuit stemming from the devastating Labor Day weekend fires of 2020, which killed 11 people, burned more than 1,560 square miles, and destroyed thousands of homes across Oregon. The financial reckoning for PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy, is far from over.
With 167 more trials scheduled through 2027 and over 1,000 class members with cases set for trial, the company’s wildfire liabilities could grow substantially beyond the current billion-dollar total. PacifiCorp has also agreed to over $2 billion in separate settlements, including a $575 million payment to the federal government for wildfire damages on federal land in Oregon and California.
Table of Contents
- How Did PacifiCorp’s Wildfire Liabilities Surpass $1 Billion?
- What Is PacifiCorp’s Legal Defense and Does It Have Merit?
- The 2020 Labor Day Wildfires and Their Lasting Impact
- What Should Affected Wildfire Survivors Do Now?
- PacifiCorp’s Appeal and the Risk of Delayed Justice
- Berkshire Hathaway’s Exposure and the Corporate Implications
- What Comes Next for PacifiCorp Wildfire Litigation?
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Did PacifiCorp’s Wildfire Liabilities Surpass $1 Billion?
The billion-dollar threshold was crossed through a grinding, trial-by-trial process that began after a 2023 trial found PacifiCorp liable for negligently failing to cut power during a windstorm despite warnings from top fire officials. That initial finding of liability opened the door for individual damage assessments, and juries have been awarding compensation to wildfire survivors in successive trials ever since. The $305 million award to just 16 plaintiffs in February 2026 illustrates the scale of individual losses — averaging roughly $19 million per plaintiff, though actual awards vary widely depending on the extent of property destruction, displacement, and personal harm each survivor experienced. To put the figure in context, PacifiCorp’s combined jury-ordered damages now exceed $1 billion across the 15 completed trials, but the company’s total wildfire-related financial exposure is considerably larger. The over $2 billion in separate settlements — negotiated outside the courtroom — brings the confirmed financial toll past $3 billion.
The $575 million federal settlement alone, covering damages to public lands in both Oregon and California, ranks among the largest utility wildfire payments in U.S. history. What makes this litigation unusual is its sheer volume. Most mass tort cases eventually consolidate into a single global settlement. Here, however, the case structure requires individual trials for class members, meaning PacifiCorp faces the prospect of relitigating damages hundreds of times over. Each successive verdict sets informal benchmarks that can influence future jury awards, and the trend so far has not been in PacifiCorp’s favor.
What Is PacifiCorp’s Legal Defense and Does It Have Merit?
PacifiCorp has contested every judgment and filed an appeal of the class-action lawsuit, with its opening brief submitted in 2025. The company’s core argument is that it did not start or contribute to the Santiam Canyon fire. In a statement following the $305 million verdict, PacifiCorp called the outcome “irresponsible” and pointed to a 2025 state report from the Oregon Department of Forestry that found no evidence connecting PacifiCorp’s equipment to the Santiam Canyon fire specifically. This defense creates an important distinction that wildfire survivors and observers should understand. The 2023 liability finding was based on PacifiCorp’s failure to de-energize its power lines during extreme wind conditions — a preventive measure that other utilities have adopted in high-risk fire weather.
The question of whether PacifiCorp’s equipment physically ignited the Santiam Canyon fire is legally separate from whether the company’s negligent operations allowed fires to spread or intensify. However, if PacifiCorp’s appeal succeeds in overturning the underlying liability finding, it could unravel the entire series of jury awards, potentially leaving survivors who have already received verdicts in legal limbo. The appeals process in Oregon can take years, and PacifiCorp may face challenges convincing appellate courts to reverse a jury finding that has now been affirmed in 15 separate trials. Still, the company has deep pockets through its Berkshire Hathaway parentage, and it has every financial incentive to pursue appeals aggressively. Survivors with pending cases should be aware that any global resolution could be delayed by appellate proceedings.
The 2020 Labor Day Wildfires and Their Lasting Impact
The fires that sparked this litigation were catastrophic by any measure. over Labor Day weekend in September 2020, high winds and dry conditions fueled multiple wildfires across Oregon that burned more than 1,560 square miles — roughly 4,040 square kilometers — in a matter of days. Eleven people died. Thousands of homes were reduced to ash. Entire communities in the Santiam Canyon, the Cascade foothills, and southern Oregon were evacuated, and some neighborhoods were so thoroughly destroyed that residents had nothing to return to. For many survivors, the financial losses extended far beyond the value of their homes.
Livestock, farm equipment, timber holdings, family heirlooms, and small businesses were wiped out. Insurance, where it existed, often covered only a fraction of actual replacement costs. Rural property owners in fire-prone areas had frequently seen their coverage dropped or premiums raised to unaffordable levels in the years before the fires. The jury awards reflect this total-loss reality — the $305 million verdict for 16 plaintiffs accounts for not just property damage but the cascading financial and personal consequences of losing everything in a single weekend. The psychological toll has been equally severe. Displacement, trauma, and the grinding stress of multi-year litigation have defined the post-fire experience for thousands of Oregonians. Some survivors have died during the litigation process, with their claims passing to estates and family members.
What Should Affected Wildfire Survivors Do Now?
For class members with cases already set for trial in 2026 or 2027, the most important step is maintaining communication with their legal representation. With over 1,000 cases scheduled across the next two years, the logistics of trial preparation are complex, and plaintiffs who fail to respond to discovery requests or provide updated documentation of their losses risk weakening their claims. Each trial requires individualized evidence of damages, so survivors should preserve all records of property values, insurance claims, medical expenses, relocation costs, and lost income. There is an inherent tradeoff between waiting for a trial verdict and pursuing a negotiated settlement. Jury awards have been substantial — the $305 million for 16 plaintiffs demonstrates that Oregon juries are sympathetic to wildfire survivors’ claims.
However, jury outcomes are unpredictable, and PacifiCorp’s active appeals mean that even a favorable verdict may not result in immediate payment. Settlements, by contrast, typically provide faster and more certain compensation, but often at a discount to what a jury might award. Survivors who have not yet retained legal counsel should consult with attorneys experienced in wildfire litigation, as the statute of limitations and class membership deadlines may affect their eligibility. It is also worth noting that PacifiCorp’s financial capacity to pay is not unlimited. While Berkshire Hathaway Energy is the parent company, corporate structures can insulate parent entities from subsidiary liabilities. If PacifiCorp’s total wildfire obligations continue to grow — and with 167 trials still ahead, they almost certainly will — questions about the company’s solvency and ability to satisfy judgments may eventually come into play.
PacifiCorp’s Appeal and the Risk of Delayed Justice
The most significant risk for wildfire survivors is the timeline. PacifiCorp’s appeal of the class-action lawsuit challenges the foundational liability finding from 2023, and appellate courts in Oregon are not known for speed. If the appeal results in a reversal or remand, it could freeze payments on existing verdicts and throw the remaining 167 trials into uncertainty. Even a partial appellate victory for PacifiCorp — such as a ruling that narrows the scope of liability or the class definition — could reduce the value of future claims. Survivors should also be aware that collecting on a jury verdict is not automatic.
PacifiCorp can post bonds to stay execution of judgments while appeals are pending, meaning that plaintiffs with favorable verdicts may wait years before seeing any money. This is a common tactic in high-stakes litigation, and it places additional financial pressure on plaintiffs who are already struggling with the aftermath of the fires. Those who are offered pre-appeal settlements should weigh the certainty of immediate payment against the possibility of a larger but delayed jury award. The broader legal landscape for utility wildfire liability is also shifting. California’s experience with PG&E — which filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after accumulating over $30 billion in wildfire liabilities — offers both a cautionary tale and a precedent. Oregon does not have the same inverse condemnation doctrine that made PG&E liable regardless of fault, but the PacifiCorp litigation demonstrates that negligence-based claims can produce comparable financial consequences when the scale of destruction is large enough.
Berkshire Hathaway’s Exposure and the Corporate Implications
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has acknowledged the severity of PacifiCorp’s wildfire liabilities. Berkshire Hathaway Energy owns PacifiCorp, and the parent company’s financial statements have reflected billions in wildfire-related charges. Buffett himself has publicly discussed the risks that utility wildfire liability poses to Berkshire Hathaway’s energy portfolio, and the PacifiCorp situation has been cited as a factor in Berkshire’s cautious approach to western utility investments.
For affected communities, the Berkshire Hathaway connection is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it means PacifiCorp has access to capital that a standalone utility might not, reducing the risk of a PG&E-style bankruptcy that could leave claimants with pennies on the dollar. On the other hand, Berkshire Hathaway’s legal and financial resources also enable a more aggressive defense strategy, including the multi-year appellate campaign that is already underway.
What Comes Next for PacifiCorp Wildfire Litigation?
With 167 trials still on the calendar through 2027, the PacifiCorp wildfire litigation is entering its most intensive phase. Each trial adds to the company’s financial exposure and creates additional pressure toward a comprehensive settlement. The pattern in mass tort litigation is that defendants eventually reach a tipping point where the cost and uncertainty of continued trials exceeds the price of a global resolution.
Whether PacifiCorp reaches that point before exhausting its appellate options remains to be seen. The outcome of this litigation will also set important precedents for utility accountability across the western United States, where climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfire seasons. Other utilities operating in fire-prone regions are watching the PacifiCorp case closely, and the billion-dollar-plus liability finding reinforces the message that failing to take preventive action during extreme fire weather carries enormous financial consequences. For the thousands of Oregonians still waiting for compensation more than five years after the fires, the path forward remains long — but the scale of the jury awards signals that courts are taking their losses seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has PacifiCorp been ordered to pay in total wildfire damages?
As of February 2026, PacifiCorp has been ordered to pay over $1 billion in jury-awarded damages across 15 trials in the class-action lawsuit. The company has also agreed to over $2 billion in separate settlements, including $575 million to the federal government for damages to federal land in Oregon and California.
Who is eligible to file a claim in the PacifiCorp wildfire class-action lawsuit?
The class-action lawsuit covers individuals who suffered losses from the 2020 Labor Day weekend wildfires in Oregon that PacifiCorp was found liable for. Eligibility depends on the specific fires covered by the litigation and the nature of the losses sustained. Individuals who believe they may be eligible should consult with an attorney experienced in wildfire litigation.
Is PacifiCorp appealing the wildfire verdicts?
Yes. PacifiCorp has appealed the class-action lawsuit and contests all judgments. The company filed its opening appellate brief in 2025. PacifiCorp argues that it did not start or contribute to the fires and points to a 2025 Oregon Department of Forestry report that found no evidence connecting PacifiCorp’s equipment to the Santiam Canyon fire.
How many more PacifiCorp wildfire trials are scheduled?
As of early 2026, 167 additional trials are scheduled through 2027, with over 1,000 class members having cases set for trial during that period.
Will Berkshire Hathaway pay PacifiCorp’s wildfire liabilities?
PacifiCorp is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. While the parent company’s financial backing reduces the risk of a bankruptcy scenario, corporate structures can limit a parent company’s direct liability for subsidiary obligations. The extent of Berkshire Hathaway’s financial support for PacifiCorp’s wildfire obligations has not been publicly detailed.
What were the 2020 Oregon Labor Day wildfires?
Over Labor Day weekend in September 2020, extreme wind conditions fueled multiple catastrophic wildfires across Oregon. The fires killed 11 people, burned more than 1,560 square miles (4,040 square kilometers), and destroyed thousands of homes. PacifiCorp was found liable in a 2023 trial for negligently failing to de-energize its power lines during the windstorm despite warnings from fire officials.