The Washington State Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the Klickitat Public Utility District is liable for one-point-six million dollars in fire-suppression costs resulting from a fire five years ago near Lyle.  The PUD had appealed the 2013 Klickitat County Superior Court ruling, arguing it was not subject to state law requiring the Department of Natural Resources to recover fire-suppression costs if negligence is found.  Investigators said the 2,100-acre wildfire started when a tree fell on a power line owned by Klickitat PUD.  The Court of Appeals ruling stated even as a municipal corporation, the PUD can still be held responsible for the starting a wildfire.  PUD chief operating officer Ron Ihrig told the Yakima Herald-Republic the utility has not yet decided whether to appeal, noting their insurer had led the effort to contest liability because it insures several other public utilities.