Mounting Lawsuits Claim Electric Utility Company & Water Department Hold Blame for California Wildfires
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As the California wildfires continue to rage, litigation has begun to pick up over who is to blame for the deadly fires and their impacts.
Several recent lawsuits claim that Southern California Edison (SCE) caused the Eaton fire due to faulty equipment. SCE is an electric utility company that services 15 million people.
Court documents include photos taken by residents of a fire blazing directly beneath an electrical transmission tower. Plaintiffs allege that SCE failed to de-energize those lines during the high winds, leading to the fire. The Eaton fire eventually burned over 13,000 acres, destroying many homes and businesses. The fire is largely contained but still remains active.
A lawsuit has also been filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. This litigation involves claims that the department was unprepared to deal with the numerous fires.
Litigation may continue to expand in the wake of these fires. For example, after the 2023 Maui fires, several parties, including the state of Hawaii and an electric utility company, settled for $4 billion in 2024.
Lawsuits Claim Electric Company is Responsible for Fire That Killed 17
Much of the early wildfire litigation involved claims that Southern California Edison was connected to the start of the Eaton fire. According to NBC News, plaintiffs say the company didn’t de-energize its power equipment or clear vegetation that could ignite in the area.
The electric company said it filed an electric safety report regarding the Eaton fire. However, the company denied that there was any evidence it caused the fire.
“SCE conducted preliminary analysis of electrical circuit information for the four energized transmission lines in the Eaton Canyon area,” it said in a statement. “That analysis shows no interruptions or operational/electrical anomalies in the 12 hours prior to the fire’s reported start time.”
The company said it only submitted an incident report because of requirements involving preservation notices and media attention. Preservation notices, also called litigation holds, are written directives to preserve key evidence in anticipation of future litigation. SCE states that “these reports are often submitted before SCE can determine whether its electric facilities are associated with an ignition.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, a judge has ordered Southern California Edison to preserve data and evidence related to the fire.
The Eaton Fire was devastating, destroying over 9,000 structures and resulting in 17 deaths. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection lists the cause of the Eaton Fire as “under investigation.”
Lawsuit Filed Against LA Department of Water and Power
In addition to the litigation involving Southern California Edison, a lawsuit has also been filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit centers on claims that the department had delayed the repair of an empty reservoir to cut costs. However, that reservoir could have helped fight the fires.
The Santa Ynez reservoir, which can hold 117 million gallons of water, was drained in February 2024.
“LADWP was required to take the Santa Ynez Reservoir out of service to meet safe drinking water regulations,” the department said in a statement. “To commission the support and resources to implement repairs to Santa Ynez, LADWP is subject to the city charter’s competitive bidding process which requires time.”
According to CBS News, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched an investigation into the unavailability of water from the reservoir.
Editor Lindsay Donaldson contributed to this article.