Southern California Edison, a unit of utility company Edison International, is facing a lawsuit alleging that its electrical equipment was responsible for starting one of the major wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The lawsuit was filed in a Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of homeowners, renters, and business owners affected by the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena area.
The Eaton Fire, which has burned approximately 14,117 acres, is one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen a fire at the base of a transmission tower owned by Southern California Edison, with some even posting videos of the incident on social media.
Following the wildfires, Edison International’s shares have dropped significantly, and the company has received notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence related to the Eaton Fire. Despite this, no fire agency has confirmed the involvement of SCE’s electric facilities in the ignition of the fires.
On Jan. 9 and 10, SCE filed safety incident reports on the Eaton and Hurst fires, respectively. The company mentioned finding a downed conductor in the area of the Hurst fire but was unsure if the damage occurred before or after the fire started.
Stay up to date with the NYP’s coverage of the LA-area fires for more information on this ongoing situation.
