The United States Department of Justice has filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE), alleging that the utility company’s negligence contributed to the outbreak of the deadly Eaton Fire in January and the Fairview Fire in September 2022.
According to the complaints, SCE failed to properly maintain its power and transmission infrastructure, resulting in the fires that destroyed thousands of homes and covered southern California with layers of smoke.
US Attorney Bill Essayli stated that the lawsuits “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.”
The Eaton Fire, which killed at least 19 people and injured nine firefighters, was one of several blazes that ravaged southern California in January.
SCE operated three transmission towers near the site of the fire and detected a “fault” on one of its transmission lines around the time the fire started.
However, the utility company has not conclusively determined that its equipment was to blame.
Despite this, federal prosecutors argue that there is enough evidence to proceed with the lawsuit, seeking $40 million in damages for federal, state, and local governments.
Essayli emphasized that “there’s no reason to wait” and that “we believe that the evidence is clear that Edison is at fault, and by their own admissions, no one else is at fault.”
The second lawsuit alleges that a swinging power cable made contact with a messenger cable, sparking flames that burned through the San Bernardino National Forest in Riverside County.
SCE spokesperson Jeff Monford stated that the utility is reviewing the lawsuits and is committed to wildfire mitigation through grid hardening, situational awareness, and enhanced operational practices.
This is not the first time SCE has faced allegations of negligence. In the past, the utility company has been blamed for devastating wildfires, including the 2017 Thomas Fire and the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which led to an estimated $9.9 billion in damage claims. The lawsuits against SCE highlight the growing concern over utility companies’ role in causing wildfires and the need for greater accountability.
The US Department of Justice has filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE), seeking approximately $37 million in damages for negligence linked to the deadly Eaton Fire in January 2025 and the Fairview Fire in September 2022.
Both fires caused extensive destruction in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, burning tens of thousands of acres of National Forest System lands.
The Eaton Fire, which started on January 7, 2025, ignited on or near National Forest Systems lands within the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County. The fire was allegedly caused by faulty power infrastructure owned, maintained, and operated by SCE.
The blaze burned nearly 8,000 acres of land, destroying or damaging Forest Service roads, trails, campgrounds, and other facilities. Unfortunately, the fire resulted in 19 fatalities and injured nine firefighters.
The Fairview Fire, which occurred on September 5, 2022, was sparked by a sagging power line owned and operated by SCE. The line came into contact with a Frontier Communications messenger cable, igniting vegetation below the lines in Hemet.
The fire burned nearly 14,000 acres within the San Bernardino National Forest, destroying dozens of buildings and claiming two lives.
The US government is seeking damages for fire suppression costs, rehabilitation of burned areas, and other environmental damages.
Acting US Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized that the lawsuits aim to hold SCE accountable for their negligence, stating, “Hardworking Californians should not pick up the tab for Edison’s negligence”.
The US Forest Service incurred millions of dollars in costs to suppress the Eaton Fire, and the government is seeking over $40 million in damages.
