The US government has filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE), accusing the utility giant of negligence that sparked two major wildfires, including January's deadly Eaton fire. The Department of Justice lodged the claims in Los Angeles federal court, seeking more than $77 million in damages.
The lawsuits allege that SCE's equipment caused the Eaton fire, which began on 7 January and scorched nearly 8,000 acres of Angeles National Forest, and the Fairview fire of September 2022, which burned approximately 14,000 acres in San Bernardino National Forest. Both fires are said to have resulted from faulty power infrastructure or a sagging power line, with the government arguing that SCE failed to upgrade its equipment despite knowing high winds could trigger blazes.
The acting US attorney in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, said at a press conference: “But for Edison's negligence, these fires would not have started. Fire season is coming up again. We want Edison to change the way it does business.” He is seeking over $40 million for the Eaton fire and $37 million for the Fairview fire, covering fire suppression, rehabilitation, and other costs, and stressed that ratepayers should not bear the financial burden.
SCE, a unit of Edison International, had no immediate comment. The January wildfires in southern California killed 31 people and destroyed or damaged more than 16,000 structures, with the Eaton fire in Altadena responsible for 19 deaths and over 10,000 structures lost. The Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades also caused extensive damage.
The government's legal action includes claims of negligence, trespass by fire, and violations of California public safety laws. A separate investigation into responsibility for the Palisades fire is still ongoing, while property owners, shareholders, and Los Angeles county have also brought lawsuits against SCE or Edison over January's wildfires.
