Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE), alleging that the utility’s equipment ignited the Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025. The fire killed 17 people, destroyed more than 9,400 structures, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
The lawsuit, filed on March 5, 2025, seeks compensation for extensive damages to county infrastructure, parks, roads, and more, along with compensation for cleanup and recovery efforts, flood and mudslide prevention, workers’ compensation claims, and overtime, among other things. The county contends that Edison’s failure to properly maintain its electrical equipment led to the ignition of the fire.
Additionally, the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre have filed separate lawsuits against Southern California Edison for damages related to the fire. “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,” said Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian.
According to the county’s complaint, the fire originated under Edison’s transmission lines in Eaton Canyon. Reports from witnesses, as well as photo and video evidence, allegedly captured flames at the base of Edison’s transmission towers around the time of ignition. Additionally, Edison informed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that a “fault” had been detected on one of its transmission lines around the time the fire started.
The lawsuit claims that Southern California Edison failed to de-energize its equipment despite warnings from the National Weather Service about extreme fire conditions leading up to January 7, 2025. Sierra Madre Mayor Robert Parkhurst emphasized the preventability of the disaster, stating, “The documented weather warnings provided Edison with ample notice of the dangerous conditions developing in our community”
Southern California Edison acknowledged in a press release that there may be a connection between its equipment and the fire but stated that investigations are still ongoing. “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,” said Pedro Pizarro, CEO of Edison International.
Southern California Edison has faced previous litigation over fires linked to its equipment. Los Angeles County secured a $64 million settlement from the utility for its role in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. Edison also paid over $2 billion to settle related insurance claims.
Additional Reading
Los Angeles County sues Southern California Edison, alleging utility’s equipment sparked wildfire, AP News (March 5, 2025)
LA County, 2 cities suing SoCal Edison over Eaton Fire, ABC News (March 5, 2025)
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