California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a $2.8 million lawsuit against a Redding cement production business, alleging that CalPortland Co.’s “negligence” started the Wonder Fire north of Redding three years ago.
The blaze was reported on July 24, 2023 near Wonderland Boulevard and Fawndale Road north of Redding and Mountain Gate in Shasta County. The brush and timber fire burned 162 acres before reaching 100% containment on July 28, 2023.
No one was injured and no structures were damaged in the fire that prompted temporary evacuations of the Bridge Bay Marina and other nearby areas, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Cal Fire’s report page said the cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.
But a lawsuit filed on July 23, 2026 in Shasta County Superior Court alleges that “wildland fires such as the Wonder Fire ordinarily do not happen unless someone was negligent.”
The lawsuit lists Cal Fire as the plaintiff in the complaint, which was signed by Bonta.
Cal Fire said that CalPortland called for assistance on July 24, 2023 after a blaze broke out in vegetation on the company’s property near its private railroad tracks, where five bulk storage rail cars full of dry cement were traveling. A cement plant employee was unable to suppress the fire and called 911, according to the complaint.
Cal Fire investigators said the burned vegetation indicated the fire had advanced “to the north away from CalPortland’s tracks and back to the south along the tracks.” Burned vegetation was also found directly next to the rails that had spread to the wooden railroad ties, the lawsuit said.
The area, about 20 feet by 5 feet, contained grass, brush, trees and “dry vegetation,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit said Cal Fire’s investigator found some brake shoes on the 1976 locomotive were “significantly worn,” allowing metal components of the brake shoes to come in contact with the locomotive’s metal wheel. That “metal-on-metal contact” from the worn braking system emitted molten metal and sparks capable of igniting dry vegetation along CalPortland’s tracks, the lawsuit said.
The defendants had not “carefully inspected, cleaned, maintained, repaired and replaced the train’s brake assembly” as the law required, the lawsuit said. Under state health and safety codes, the lawsuit said, the Attorney General’s office is authorized to recover costs related to fire suppression and investigation through civil cost-recovery lawsuits and settlements.
In April 2026, Cal Fire asked the cement company to pay $2.8 million related to fire suppression and investigation costs, plus interest. None of the money has been paid, the lawsuit said.
The cement company’s “acts omissions and violations of law were a direct, foreseeable, actual and legal cause of the Wonder Fire,” the lawsuit said.
CalPortland Company officials had not responded to an email request for comment by deadline.The Nevada-based company founded in California has been owned by Japanese firm Taiheiyo Cement Corporation since 1990.
Michele Chandler covers public safety, reports on major trials happening in Shasta County Superior Court, writes about restaurants and handles whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: California seeks $2.8M from Redding cement firm over 2023 Wonder Fire
Reporting by Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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By Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight | USA TODAY Network
