The United States government announced Thursday that it is suing Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the largest electric utility companies in the nation, for tens of millions of dollars for its alleged negligence in the Eaton and Fairview wildfires.
The deadly fires burned tens of thousands of acres of National Forest System lands, killed a total of 21 people and destroyed thousands of buildings, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) stated in its news release.
“The lawsuits filed today allege a troubling pattern of negligence resulting in death, destruction, and tens of millions of federal taxpayer dollars spent to clean up one utility company’s mistakes,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli.
The lawsuit is seeking more than $40 million in damages caused by the Jan. 7, 2025, Eaton Fire, which it claims was ignited from faulty power infrastructure owned, maintained, and operated by SCE.
While the cause of the fire is still officially under investigation, the DOJ pointed to a July 31 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in which SCE reported that it was “not aware of evidence pointing to another possible source of ignition.”
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In this photo provided by Pasadena, Calif., resident Matt Logelin, flames burn beneath transmission towers owned by Southern California Edison in Eaton Canyon in the early evening of Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Matt Logelin via AP) -
One of two Southern California Edison transmission towers was dismantled and removed from a steep hillside in Eaton Canyon on May 7, 2025, as part of an investigation into whether the towers played a role in the deadly Eaton fire in Altadena. (KTLA) -
One of two Southern California Edison transmission towers was dismantled and removed from a steep hillside in Eaton Canyon on May 7, 2025, as part of an investigation into whether the towers played a role in the deadly Eaton fire in Altadena. (KTLA) -
FILE – Megan Mantia, left, and her boyfriend Thomas, only first game given, return to Mantia’s fire-damaged home after the Eaton Fire swept through the area, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) -
FILE – Firefighters protect a structure as the Eaton Fire advances, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) -
FILE – A firefighter tries to extinguish flames at a burning apartment building during the Eaton Fire, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) -
The Fairview Fire burns on a hillside near an orange grove Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, near Hemet, Calif. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) -
A structure burns in the Fairview Fire burning near Hemet. (OnScene.TV) -
Damage caused by the Fairview Fire in Hemet on Sept. 6, 2022 is seen in an aerial image. (KTLA)
The Eaton Fire burned more than 10,000 structures, leaving at least 19 people dead while also destroying or damaging U.S. Forest Service roads, trails, campgrounds and other facilities.
“SCE negligently failed to properly maintain its power and transmission lines and infrastructure in the area where the Eaton Fire ignited,” the DOJ stated.
The Fairview Fire ignited in Hemet on Sept. 5, 2022, when a sagging power line owned came into contact with a Frontier Communications messenger cable, creating sparks that ignited vegetation below, according to the news release.
“In addition to the damage caused to the national forest, the fire burned 44 structures, claimed two lives, and injured three people – including two firefighters,” the DOJ said.
The U.S. is seeking to recover about $37 million in damages incurred by the Forest Service, including $20 million in fire suppression costs it says were incurred by the Fairview Fire.
During a morning news conference on Thursday, Essayli said that he does not want SCE to offset damages by raising the rates of customers, ensuring there are terms in the lawsuit to prevent such actions.
KTLA has reached out to SCE in regards to the lawsuit and is awaiting a response.