LA County sues utility company, blames electrical equipment for wildfire
FILE – Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton Fire burns structures Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)
PASADENA – Los Angeles County and the cities of Sierra Madre and Pasadena filed lawsuits Wednesday against Southern California Edison alleging the utility’s equipment sparked the deadly Eaton Fire that scorched more than 14,000 acres and destroyed thousands of structures.
“The county’s complaint against SCE alleges that witnesses, photos, and videos indicate the fire started directly under SCE transmission lines in Eaton Canyon,” according to a statement from the county.
“After the fire started, SCE informed the California Public Utilities Commission that a `fault’ occurred on its transmission line around the time the fire started. On Feb. 6, SCE sent a letter to the CPUC stating that photographic evidence of its tower at the end of the idle Mesa-Sylmar transmission line shows signs of potential arcing and damage on the grounding equipment for two of the three idle conductors.”
The lawsuits by the county and cities seek to recover costs incurred responding and recovering from the blaze, which began amid a massive Jan. 7 windstorm.
The Sierra Madre suit states that the Eaton Fire destroyed or damaged numerous city landmarks, including the Sierra Madre Historical Wilderness Area and the Mount Wilson Trail. The Pasadena suit states that the blaze damaged the Police Department training facility and the city’s water storage tanks.
“The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena’s operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild,” Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian said in a statement. “While our restoration efforts continue, we have a responsibility to pursue appropriate compensation for the costs of rebuilding the public infrastructure our community relies upon.”
An SCE representative said the utility’s hearts are with the communities affected by the wildfire and that the lawsuits are being reviewed and will be addressed.
The utility has already been targeted in multiple lawsuits by residents blaming the company for sparking the fire.
Edison officials said previously that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
“While we do not yet know what caused the Eaton wildfire, SCE is exploring every possibility in its investigation, including the possibility that SCE’s equipment was involved,” Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of SCE’s parent company, Edison International, said in a statement last month.
“We have been fully engaged since the start of the fires in supporting the broader emergency response, containment, recovery and investigation efforts.”
SCE officials said its investigation into the fire’s cause was likely to take several more months.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has suffered losses,” Pizarro said. “We are working with the local communities SCE serves to rebuild and emerge stronger. We understand the community wants answers, and we remain committed to a thorough and transparent investigation.”
The Eaton Fire caused at least 17 deaths, destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged 1,073 more while burning 14,021 acres.
