Two lawsuits were filed against Southern California Edison for their alleged failure to de-energize their power equipment and clear brush where a blaze sparked near Pasadena, among the numerous fires currently raging in the Los Angeles area due to strong winds. The complaints were filed by individuals who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, one of the fires that has destroyed over 7,000 structures and remains one-third contained. Despite no official cause being determined, the lawsuits suggest evidence points to Southern California Edison’s inaction. The utility has not confirmed any responsibility for the fire’s ignition. The suits accuse the company of negligence, premises liability, and violating public utilities code, claiming that the utility should have known of potential dangers given forecasts of dangerous wind conditions. The legal team has met with over 500 affected individuals, seeking justice for victims who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
An expert cited in the suits mentioned that there were more than 300 faults on Southern California Edison’s lines in the vicinity of the fire’s origins, possibly caused by trees hitting power lines. The lawsuits also highlight the utility’s failures in past incidents that led to significant damage and displacement. Financial analysts estimated potential insured losses of about $30 billion from the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County, with the majority involving homeowners. Southern California Edison has filed electric safety incident reports related to the wildfires but maintains its distribution lines in the Eaton Canyon area were de-energized before the fire’s start and that there were no anomalies in electrical circuit information prior to the blaze.
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