SoCal Edison recordsdata a number of lawsuits over Eaton Fire, stating others are in charge | EUROtoday

Southern California Edison has filed lawsuits accusing Los Angeles County, native water businesses and the Southern California Gas Company of a collection of missteps that the utility says made final yr’s Eaton Fire extra lethal.

The utility filed cross-complaints in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday in opposition to Los Angeles County, Pasadena Water and Power and 5 different water businesses, KABC-TV reported. SoCal Edison additionally filed a separate courtroom grievance in opposition to SoCalGas.

The hearth that ignited on Jan. 7, 2025, killed 19 individuals and destroyed greater than 9,400 houses and different constructions. It took firefighters practically a month to extinguish the blaze, which scorched 22 sq. miles (57 sq. kilometers).

The trigger stays beneath investigation, however proof suggests one of many utility’s idled energy traces may need sparked the hearth.

SoCal Edison claims within the lawsuits that Los Angeles County businesses didn’t ship well timed evacuation warnings to residents in east and west Altadena. Eighteen of the 19 individuals who died within the hearth lived in west Altadena.

Los Angeles County declined to remark concerning the newest courtroom filings.

The utility additionally claims water businesses, together with Pasadena Water and Power, didn’t present sufficient water as the hearth unfold, leaving firefighters with restricted sources.

In a separate courtroom submitting, SoCal Edison blames SoCalGas, claiming the fuel utility didn’t start widespread shutoffs till 4 days after the hearth began. SoCal Edison says fuel leaks and gas-fed fires helped gasoline the blaze.

SoCalGas stated it’s reviewing the grievance and can reply by means of the judicial course of. Meanwhile, Pasadena officers rejected SoCal Edison’s claims, saying the town believes the utility’s tools prompted the hearth.

SoCal Edison is going through 998 lawsuits from hearth victims, insurers and authorities entities. The U.S. Department of Justice has additionally sued the corporate over harm to National Forest land.