A southern California Edison (SCE) utility has been sued over its alleged role in starting one of the recent Los Angeles fires that killed at least 24 people and displaced tens of thousands. Jeremy Gursey, whose house was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, claims SCE is responsible for sparking the blaze.
Gursey cites photos taken by local residents showing a small fire underneath transmission lines in Eaton Canyon as evidence. Local officials are investigating the cause of the fires but have not yet determined what started them.
SCE has repeatedly denied any involvement and says its equipment showed no signs of malfunction before the fire began. However, the company’s shares have fallen 10% after investors feared financial responsibility for the fires.
Other utilities that have been found liable in wildfires have paid high costs, including Pacific Gas and Electric, which filed bankruptcy in 2019, and a group of companies that settled for $4 billion with residents over their role in a 2023 Lahaina fire.
SCE’s lawyer says evidence points to the company starting the fire due to its failure to de-energize overhead wires despite a red flag wind warning. The lawsuit is one of several expected against SCE, as the lawyer has represented tens of thousands of wildfire victims in the past.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/13/business/edison-power-company-lawsuit-eaton-fire/index.html