National Briefing | West: California: Railroad to Pay $102 Million in Wildfire

Union Pacific will pay $102 million to the United States Forest Service to settle a lawsuit over damage caused by a huge wildfire north of Sacramento in 2000 that was started accidentally by railroad employees, officials said. United States Attorney McGregor Scott said the damage recovery would be the largest ever for the Forest Service in a wildfire. Union Pacific, based in Omaha, agreed to the settlement after a federal judge in Sacramento ruled against the company in February, said Zoe Richmond, a railroad spokeswoman. Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr. of Federal District Court decided the government could seek damages far beyond firefighting costs and the market value of burned trees.