Cities Sue Edison Over Deadly Eaton Fire Causing Widespread Damage

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and Los Angeles County filed separate lawsuits on Wednesday in L.A. County Superior Court against Southern California Edison, alleging the company’s equipment sparked the deadly Eaton Fire that devastated the region in January. The fires, which began on January 7, resulted in 17 fatalities, destroyed over 14,000 acres, and led to the obliteration of more than 9,000 structures.

The lawsuits specifically claim that SoCal Edison’s faulty equipment ignited the blaze in Eaton Canyon, a finding supported by evidence from utility reports to the California Public Utilities Commission, indicating a fault was detected near the fire’s origin. Photographs and videos also depict flames near SoCal Edison transmission towers.

Los Angeles County estimates the damages from the Eaton Fire will reach hundreds of millions of dollars, covering expenses related to destroyed infrastructure, parks, and paid overtime for emergency workers.

Sierra Madre Mayor Robert Parkhurst expressed his community’s distress, stating, “What makes this disaster particularly troubling is its preventability. The documented weather warnings provided Edison with ample notice of the dangerous conditions developing in our community.”

In response to the lawsuits, a SoCal Edison spokesperson affirmed that the utility is actively reviewing the claims and will address them through the proper legal channels.

The lawsuits emphasize that SoCal Edison has a history of safety failures, citing eight previous wildfires linked to the utility. “Despite its knowledge of extreme fire risk, [SoCal Edison] deliberately prioritized profits over safety,” the lawsuits state, highlighting negligence in inspecting equipment and maintaining vegetation around its power lines.

Lisa Derderian, spokesperson for Pasadena, noted that the city is obliged to seek compensation for the restoration of public infrastructure. “The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena’s operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild,” she asserted.

Both lawsuits further allege that warnings about a potential windstorm and extreme fire weather conditions, issued days in advance by the National Weather Service, were ignored, contributing to the disaster.

According to satellite imagery included in the Los Angeles County filing, the Eaton Fire severely impacted the unincorporated Altadena area, with all reported fatalities occurring there. Many residents were allegedly not promptly notified about evacuation orders, raising concerns among local officials.

The litigation presents a stark reminder of the ongoing wildfire danger in Southern California, particularly when facing low humidity and high winds, common during the region’s dry seasons.

In a statement, SoCal Edison’s CEO, Pedro Pizarro, remarked that the company remains engaged in ongoing emergency response efforts. While acknowledging the significance of the lawsuits, he emphasized that the utility is committed to comprehensive investigations and safety reviews.

As the legal process unfolds, both residents and officials grapple with the lasting repercussions of the Eaton Fire, and the lawsuits symbolize the community’s quest for accountability and restoration.