Federal lawsuits were filed Thursday against Southern California Edison in connection with damage caused by two deadly Southern California wildfires, including the deadly January fire in Altadena.
In copies of the lawsuits filed Thursday and obtained by NBCLA, federal prosecutors named Southern California Edison as defendants and sought payment for costs incurred due to the January Eaton Fire and the September 2022 Fairview Fire in Riverside County.
Both fires damaged federal government-owned land and property. The lawsuits seek to recover tens of millions of dollars in costs due to fire suppression and rehabilitation of national forest property.
NBCLA has reached out to SCE for comment.
“It is our intention that SCE, the company itself and not the rate payers, will bear the burden of these costs,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. “Innocent, hard working Californians should not have to pay for Edison’s negligence.
“We hope that today’s complaint will be a first step in changing the way Edison does business.”
The Eaton Fire started Jan. 7 in an historic Santa Ana windstorm that fanned flames in the Eaton Canyon area into the San Gabriel Valley community. The fire burned on federal forest system land in Angeles National Forest, consuming more than 14,000 acres and destroying more than 9,400 structures before it was contained about 24 days later.
The fire burned nearly 8,000 acres of land in Angeles National Forest and damaged or destroyed service roads, trials, campgrounds and other federal property, according to the lawsuit. The fire also heightened the risk of falling rocks, debris slide, flooding and other hazards, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit, seeking $40 million in damages, also said the fire affected water quality and allowed non-native vegetation to invade the area.
Victims of the Eaton Fire will have to wait until 2027 before the first lawsuit filed over the cause of the blaze will go to trial. Investigative reporter Eric Leonard reports for NBC4 Investigates at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025.
The cause of the Eaton Fire remains under investigation, but Southern California Edison has said a leading theory is that its transmission lines started the blaze. The utility said the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program will launch this fall, promising it to be voluntary and comprehensive to offer direct payments to eligible recipients.
The Mesa-Sylmar line, idled for decades, is being analyzed as part of the investigation into how the Eaton Fire started. Edison raised the possibility in a February regulatory filing that the tower or circuit might have become momentarily energized through a phenomenon called induction.
“SCE breached its duty of care and was negligent in causing the Eaton Fire, including its failure to construct, maintain, and operate its power and transmission lines and equipment in a safe and effective working order to prevent fires and damage to the land and property of adjacent landowners, including the United States,” the federal lawsuit states.
The Eaton Fire is the second-most destructive wildfire on record in California. Nineteen deaths were reported in connection with the fire, the fifth deadliest on record in the fire-prone state.
The utility company says the direct payments will be available for Eaton Fire victims in the coming months. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
The Fairview Fire started Sept. 5, 2022 in the Riverside County community of Hemet and burned on federal land in the San Bernardino National Forest, damaging or destroying federal property like service roads and the Red Mountain Lookout, used for fire detection in remote areas of the forest.
“The lawsuit alleges that SCE failed to properly maintain its power and transmission lines in or around the area where the Fairview Fire ignited,” federal prosecutors said in a statement. “It also failed to ensure the minimum clearance between its power lines and the Frontier Communications messenger cable in the area where the fire ignited.”
The federal government is seeking about $37 million in damages due to the Fairview Fire.
The fire burned more than 28,000 acres after spreading in the Rouse Ridge and Bautista Canyon area. A man and his daughter died in the fire as they tried to escape flames racing through a brush-covered canyon. They were found in a vehicle.
Thirty-six structures were destroyed.
A CALFIRE investigation determined the fire originated between two Southern California Edison poles on private property, concluding the cause was contact and arcing between one of SCE’s electrical line conductor and a messenger cable owned by Frontier Communications.
Several lawsuits have already been filed over both fires.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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