The Rey Fire burned more than 32,000 acres, including 19,000 acres of National Forest System lands in Santa Barbara County.
Smoke from the 33,000-acre Rey Fire sends smoke billowing into the air and creating colorful sunsets on August 21, 2016, in Santa Ynez, California.
The money covers damage from the Rey Fire as well as the costs of fighting the blaze, which was sparked by a fallen Edison power line, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. The government said the fire began when a tree fell onto Edison power lines and communications lines owned by Frontier Communications. The government sued the two companies along with Utility Tree Service, a tree-trimming company that contracted with Edison, alleging that they knew of the danger and failed to maintain equipment or to take action to prevent it.
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