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Vape and e-cig devices powered by 18650 and other Li-on batteries are growing as a market in the United States. If you’ve read the news you’ve also seen stories about vape battery explosions and injuries, and lawsuits against manufacturers and sellers of e-cig devices due to the serious injuries.

The U.S. Fire Administration, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has issued a new report titled “Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions in the United States 2009-2016”.

The Honorable Curits E.A. Karnow, Superior Court Judge for the County of San Francisco, ordered that the North Bay wildfire cases be coordinated together. This will include cases filed by Levin Simes on behalf of victims affected by the Northern California wildfires.

According to data collected by The Washington Post, California experienced 9,000 wildfires and millions of burned acres in 2017. The fires destroyed nearly 11,000 structures and killed 46 people. The Thomas Fire in Southern California – now considered the largest fire in the state’s history – has still not been fully contained.

State legislators and investigators are reviewing evidence regarding wildfires in Northern California, according to a new article by the San Francisco Chronicle. In particular they are reviewing evidence surrounding equipment including PG&E reclosers, equipment used to send pulses of electricity through power lines that are malfunctioning.

Asbestos, mined and later abandoned in Fresno County and Coalinga California can and does cause mesothelioma. As sites become contaminated with asbestos and other dangerous products, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is eventually tasked with planning cleanup. When a site is heavily contaminated, the EPA may be declared it a “Superfund” site.

Through the generous contributions of individuals and organizations, United Way of the Wine Country (UWWC) has built an emergency relief fund for those in Sonoma County affected by the Northern California wildfires. You may be eligible for a cash grant if you.

A pop-up storefront for Napa County residents affected by Northern California wildfires, which offers free clothing and other household goods, is set to close on Nov 26th.

A jury awarded six plaintiffs a combined $247 million for their injuries due to defectively designed DePuy Pinnacle metal on metal hip implants. The six plaintiffs had to undergo revision surgery to revise their metal on metal Ultamet liner Pinnacle devices, a device Johnson and Johnson and DePuy pulled off the market but never fully recalled.

The California Public Utilities Commissions has issued a fact sheet explaining the many consumer protections that are in place for those affected by the wildfires. PG&E must discontinue billing to those affected who are not capable of receiving gas or electric due to fire damage, deposits must be waived, utilities must expedite move-in and move-out requests, end estimated energy use billing, remove any minimum billing requirements, add additional payment options for affected customers, and more.