California Utility Facing Slew Of Lawsuits For Alleged Error That May Have Sparked Wildfire

[Photo Obtained by Daily Caller News Foundation]

PASADENA , CALIF— Los Angeles-area utility Southern California Edison (SCE) was hit with multiple lawsuits on Monday alleging the company’s operations helped spark a deadly fire that tore through Pasadena and Altadena, with one attorney telling the Daily Caller News Foundation it’s just the beginning.

While state and local leadership has been heavily criticized for the lack of preparation for the wildfire crisis, some residents have already begun to file lawsuits over the origins of the fires. Five lawsuits against SCE were filed through the Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, two for personal injury/property damage/wrongful death and three for claims involving mass tort — all alleging the state’s utility company had a role in the Eaton Canyon fire.

One lawsuit brought forward by Altadena resident Evangeline Iglesias claims there is “clear evidence from video footage, photographs, and witness accounts” that the Eaton fire had been in part caused by electrical equipment owned and operated by Edison International and SCE as the company allegedly failed to “de-energize all of its electrical equipment in the area.”

Prior to the start of the Santa Ana Winds on Jan. 7, the National Weather Service issued a press release warning about hurricane-like winds potentially reaching 80 mph to 100 mph. On SCE’s site the day before the fires broke out, the company published a press release stating that due to the alert and “elevated risk of fire danger comes amid several consecutive months without significant rain” public safety power shutoffs “may be necessary to protect homes and communities.”

READ:

EVANGELINE IGLESIAS v. Southern California Edison Company and Edison International by hailey on Scribd

However, according to the lawsuit, eyewitnesses who were near the canyon have provided evidence allegedly showing the fire “emerging from the base of power transmission towers owned and operated to SCE.”

The lawsuit claims that if the company had ensured flammable vegetation around its infrastructure was trimmed, utilized public safety power shutoffs when weather conditions made it unsafe to keep electrical equipment energized and confirmed their equipment was prepared to handle high-risk weather events, the crisis could have been avoided.(RELATED: ‘Excuses Go Up In Flames’: California Dems Paved The Way For Los Angeles To Be Consumed By ‘The Big One’)

“Despite these repeated and clear warnings, and thought it appears that SCE de-energized certain electrical equipment in and around Eaton Canyon, SCE failed to de-energize all of its electrical equipment in the area that day. Specifically, in the hours preceding the first report of a fire in the Eaton Canyon at approximately 6:15 p.m., data shows that there were more than 300 faults on SCE’s lines in the vicinity of the fire’s origin,” the lawsuit states.

One Altadena resident near the canyon area told the DCNF that while she remembered her power being shut off on Jan. 7 around 3:00 p.m., she stated it appeared the streets west of her still had power throughout the day. Just a street down from her, another local resident confirmed her power had been on during the start of the fire, stating she remembered it only shutting off sometime around 7:00 p.m. while she was preparing to evacuate.

On Monday, SCE spokesman Jeff Monford told the DCNF that while the company understood there was “a lawsuit filed,” they have not yet received the complaint, highlighting how the start of the fire was still under investigation.

“Our hearts remain with our communities during the devastating fires in Southern California, and we remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time. SCE crews, contractors, and mutual assistance partners are dedicated to safely restoring power to our customers,” Monford told DCNF.

“SCE understands that a lawsuit related to the Eaton fire has been filed, but has not yet been served with a complaint. SCE will review the complaint when it is received. The cause of the fire continues to be under investigation,” Monford said.

Edison International released an update to the Eaton fire on Jan. 12, stating how SCE had filed an Electric Safety Incident Report (ESIR) related to the current Eaton fire, which was filed on Thursday. According to the ESIR, SCE claims that following a “preliminary analysis of electrical circuit information for the four energized transmission lines in the Eaton Canyon area,” there were no alleged signs of “interruptions” or “operational/electrical anomalies” 12 hours prior to the fire’s reported start time sometime between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

“That analysis shows no interruptions or operational/electrical anomalies in the 12 hours prior to the fire’s reported start time until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire. Aside from the preservation notices suggesting SCE’s potential involvement and media attention surrounding the fire, SCE would not have filed an ESIR,” the report states.

As of Monday, personal injury attorney Neama Rahmani told the DCNF that more lawsuits are expected against SCE over its alleged failure to de-energize power lines or maintain the overgrown vegetation in the area, with only five cases filed so far.

“The Eaton Canyon fire will be one of the biggest lawsuits in American history. Thousands of people lost their homes and suffered billions of dollars in fire damage,” Rahmani said. “Edison knew there was a red flag warning of high winds the day before, that the Palisades fire was burning for several hours, and the vegetation was overgrown. But they failed to shut down the power or de-energize the lines.”

The Pasadena Fire Department has yet to release the confirmed origins of the Eaton fire as the investigation is ongoing.