Feds suing Southern California company for millions over 2021 ‘South Fire’

The United States Attorney’s Office is suing an Upland-based grading, concrete and pipeline company for millions of dollars in connection with the “South Fire,” which burned hundreds of acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in summer of 2021, officials announced earlier this month.

Almost three years to the day, Deanna Barnes and her family are still coping with the devastating and expensive damage caused by the fire.

“It’s hard to come back to this part of our property because it brings back so many memories,” Barnes, breaking into tears, told KTLA.

A vacant slab of concrete near piles of wood and charred metal are all that remains of her family’s business, A Plus Manufacturing, which also lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

The South Fire burned 680 acres, destroyed several homes and structures after it broke out on Aug. 25, 2021, near Lytle Creek.

Now, a new lawsuit by the federal government claims G.J. Gentry Engineering Inc and its founder are to blame for the losses, saying in a news release the company was negligent in operating an excavator in a rocky area in nearby Fontana.

Federal prosecutors allege the heavy machinery struck rocks, which ignited the fire, and that G.J. Gentry failed to keep it from spreading.

The U.S. Government is seeking more than $2.2 million in “fire suppression costs,” according to the complaint.

KTLA has reached out to the Upland-based contractor, which, so far, has not responded to a request for comment.

The lawsuit is one of the first major steps taken since the fire was extinguished.

Even though it was three years ago, many residents, like Barnes, are still coping with their losses. While she says she’s grateful her family came out safe, life since the fire has been a struggle.

“I haven’t received any help other than friends and family,” she explained. “We were just told it wasn’t a big enough fire acreage to get help. We hope soon that we can get back to where we were and that’s we’re looking for.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.