Los Angeles County blames electrical equipment for wildfire, sues utility company
Los Angeles County sued Southern California Edison Wednesday, saying the utility company's equipment was responsible for a deadly blaze that ravaged the area earlier this year, necessitating costly response and cleanup.
The Eaton Fire, one of multiple fires that torched the region in January, destroyed much of unincorporated Altadena, scorching county parks and trails, a nature center and other essential community elements, the county said in a news release.
“We are committed to seeking justice for the Altadena community and the taxpayers of Los Angeles County,” said Dawyn Harrison, county counsel. The county seeks to recoup losses and damages including compensation for destroyed infrastructure, recreational areas, flood and mudslide prevention, road damage and more.
The Altadena community became a haven for the Black middle class in the 1960s, as African Americans found welcoming prices and atmosphere in the hillside suburb just north of Pasadena, passing their homes down through generations as the state's real estate market flourished. Much of that legacy has been destroyed.
The Eaton Fire burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures and killed 17 people, making it the second most destructive and fifth deadliest blaze in California history, according to the lawsuit.
The cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre also have filed related lawsuits against Southern California Edison.
"Our hearts are with the communities impacted by the wildfires in Southern California," Kathleen Dunleavy, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, told Paste BN Wednesday. "We are reviewing the recently filed lawsuits and will address them through the appropriate legal process."
The lawsuit alleges evidence shows the fire began amid high winds below a transmission tower carrying high-voltage power lines and electrical equipment owned by the utility, igniting surrounding vegetation.
"There is clear evidence from video footage, photographs and witness statements that the fire was caused by EDISON's electrical equipment," the suit says. "... EDISON had a duty to properly maintain and operate its electrical infrastructure, including any equipment that has been decommissioned, yet failed to do so."
The county also says the utility also failed in its responsibility to maintain flammable vegetation around the equipment and employ power shutoffs despite repeated warnings of high winds ― including a "fire weather watch" ― issued by the National Weather Service.
In a Feb. 6 letter, the county said, Southern California Edison told the California Public Utilities Commission photographic evidence indicated signs of potential arcing and damage to grounding equipment for two of three idle tower conductors.
The lawsuit asserts the fire “has massively impact the County’s natural resources, harmed the environment and wildlife and threatened public health.” Costs and damages related to the fire and its aftermath continue to be calculated and are likely to increase into the hundreds of millions over time, it said.
Along with Los Angeles County, the county’s flood control district and fire protection district are named as plaintiffs in the case.
An Altadena resident who lost her home sued the utility in January, alleging it failed to shut down its equipment despite warnings of high winds.