The U.S. government has initiated legal proceedings against an Upland-based engineering firm, accusing it of causing the South Fire that scorched hundreds of acres in the San Bernardino National Forest during the summer of 2021. The lawsuit, lodged in the Central District Court of California, insists that Garrett J. Gentry General Engineering Inc., along with its proprietor Garrett J. Gentry, is responsible for damages due to the negligent operation of heavy machinery that sparked the blaze.
According to the complaint obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the fire ignited on August 25, 2021, when the steel tracks of an excavator operated by the accused company made contact with rocks, leading to the conflagration. The suit alleges, among other things, that Gentry Engineering and Gentry were aware of the danger of a rock strike by the excavator and failed to take action to prevent a fire.
As a result of the incident, more than 680 acres were burned, including 450 acres within the national forest boundaries. Numerous residences and structures were destroyed, leading to evacuations. The Forest Service has purportedly spent over $2.2 million in suppressing the firestorm.
The case is under the purview of Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Quist from the Civil Division’s Complex and Defensive Litigation Section. Notably, burned during the fire, the United States Forest Service has been left grappling with significant fire suppression expenses. The San Bernardino National Forest, a unique and delicate ecosystem, was left scarred by this human-caused disaster.
For further information, Sarah Quist's office or Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy can be contacted for comments or questions related to the case. With both the environment and taxpayers bearing the costs of such incidents, the outcome of this lawsuit might set a precedent for the accountability of companies in preventing future wildfires.
