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By Natalie Venegas
Weekend Reporter
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Multiple lawsuits were filed on Monday against utility company Southern California Edison over the company equipment's alleged role in starting the Eaton fire, which has ravaged neighborhoods near Pasadena, California.
Why It Matters
Los Angeles has been battling a series of devastating wildfires since last week. At least three blazes, including the Eaton fire, are currently active in the region as of Monday, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire).
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The fires have left at least 24 people dead and more than 12,000 structures destroyed. The Eaton fire alone has destroyed at least 7,000 homes. In addition, as firefighters continue to battle the fires, concerns remain over the cause as authorities haven't determined an official cause.
What To Know
One lawsuit, brought by attorneys for a homeowner who lost their residence, alleges that Edison's equipment was the ignition source, adding that footage and witness accounts reportedly show flames erupting directly beneath electrical towers as the fire began.
"There is clear evidence from video footage, photographs, and witness accounts that the fire was caused by electrical equipment operated by Defendants Edison International and Southern California Edison," the complaint states.
According to ABC7 News, another lawsuit alleges that Edison failed to comply with essential electrical and fire safety standards, including failing to maintain power lines properly and overgrown vegetation.
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Another filed by Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian stated "the Eaton Fire was ignited because of Edison's failure to de-energize its overhead wires which traverse Eaton Canyon-despite a red flag PDS wind warning."
While Edison has not commented on the lawsuits, according to The Associated Press, the company has acknowledged fire agencies are investigating whether its equipment may have started a smaller Los Angeles-area fire that broke out the same day.
In a filing with the California Public Utilities Commission, Edison said that "a downed conductor was discovered at a tower" near the start of the Hurst fire that broke out in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sylmar. But the utility added it "does not know whether the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire." That fire burned more than a square mile and is now mostly contained.
However, last week, Edison filed a report with the California Public Utilities Commission related to the Eaton fire that said it has not received any suggestions that its equipment was involved in the ignition of that fire. Edison said it filed the report with state utilities regulators out of "an abundance of caution" after receiving evidence preservation notices from insurance company lawyers.
"Preliminary analysis by SCE of electrical circuit information for the energized transmission lines going through the area for 12 hours prior to the reported start time of the fire shows no interruptions or electrical or operational anomalies until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire," the utility reported.
What People Are Saying
A statement released by Richard Bridgford of Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian said: "Based upon our investigation, our discussions with various consultants, the public statements of SCE, and the video evidence of the fire's origin, we believe that the Eaton Fire was ignited because of SCE's failure to de-energize its overhead wires which traverse Eaton Canyon-despite a red flag PDS wind warning issued by the national weather service the day before the ignition of the fire. Our hearts go out to the many victims of this and the other Los Angeles fires."
Pedro Pizarro, the president and CEO of SCE's parent company Edison International, told ABC7 News before the lawsuits were filed: "We've seen in your reporting the videos, we've seen the photos, so we know that there was fire there. We don't know what caused it. Again, there was the obvious signature that we would see normally, but we have not been able to get up close to those lines because firefighters have determined that it hasn't been safe to do that yet. Whatever we find, we'll be transparent with our public."
What Happens Next
As the fires continue to ravage communities and fire crews are continuing to fight the wildfires, authorities are still investigating the official causes for the fires.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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