Southern California Edison (SCE), the utility company responsible for providing power to Los Angeles, is facing a lawsuit after it was accused of sparking a deadly wildfire that has killed at least 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
The fire, known as the Eaton Fire, began in the Altadena neighborhood and quickly spread, causing widespread damage.
Eaton Fire Lawsuit Claims SCE's Equipment Sparked Devastating Blaze
Jeremy Gursey, a resident whose home was destroyed in the fire, filed the lawsuit against SCE on Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. In his claim, Gursey argues that the fire started as a result of the company's electrical equipment.
According to CNN, he points to evidence from local residents Jennifer and Marcus Errico, who took photographs of a small blaze under a transmission line in Eaton Canyon on January 7, around the time the fire began.
While the Erricos cannot confirm whether SCE was responsible, they observed the fire's origin near the transmission tower.
SCE, however, has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, the company said that after reviewing circuits and transmission lines in the area, it found no evidence that its equipment had caused the fire.
According to SCE, there were no operational anomalies or electrical interruptions that could have triggered the blaze.
Despite this, the lawsuit against the company is just the beginning. Richard Bridgford, the attorney representing Gursey, argues that there is growing evidence linking SCE's equipment to the fire. Bridgford suggests that the utility failed to de-energize its wires, despite a red flag wind warning issued by the National Weather Service.
This decision, he believes, made SCE responsible for the ignition. He also pointed to video footage and expert opinions as further evidence that SCE's equipment played a role in the fire's spread.
Eaton Fire Scorches 14,000 Acres, Devastates Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre
The Eaton Fire has already become one of California's most deadly and destructive wildfires in recent years.
The fire has scorched over 14,000 acres of land, destroying neighborhoods in Altadena and nearby areas such as Pasadena and Sierra Madre, CBS News said.
Although firefighters have contained about 33% of the blaze, the situation remains dire. The fire has claimed the lives of 16 people, and thousands of homes have been reduced to rubble.
SCE has insisted that it will cooperate fully with the investigation. A spokesperson for the company expressed sympathy for the victims of the fire but reiterated that no fire agency has yet connected the company's equipment to the fire's ignition.
Despite this, SCE's parent company, Edison International, saw a significant drop in its stock value, reflecting investor concerns over the potential financial consequences of the lawsuit.
This lawsuit is only the latest in a series of legal actions against utility companies in California for their alleged role in wildfires. In 2019, Pacific Gas and Electric filed for bankruptcy after being held responsible for several wildfires in the state.
Other companies, such as Hawaiian Electric, have faced multi-billion-dollar settlements related to fire damages.
As the investigation into the cause of the Eaton Fire continues, many affected residents are hopeful that justice will be served.
Attorneys representing those affected by the fire have vowed to hold SCE accountable for its alleged negligence, especially given the heightened risks posed by high winds and dry conditions in the area.
