Attorneys representing the affected in Los Angeles are heading to court with multiple lawsuits that allege negligence on the part of at least two Southern California public utilities.
Southern California Edison has been accused of not maintaining power lines, and other equipment. This is alleged to have contributed to the 14,000-acre Eaton Fire that decimated Altadena’s neighborhoods, before spreading to neighboring communities.
Patrick McNicholas is an attorney with McNicholas & McNicholas. He said, “This goes far beyond a failure to be responsible; it’s gross negligence, especially in an area that has been known for its high risk of wildfires due to the weather warnings and windy conditions.” “We are dedicated to holding Southern California Edison responsible for their alleged negligent and seeking justice for the victims who have lost homes, livelihoods and their loved ones.”
In an report submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission by SoCal Edison, the company denied that its equipment was responsible for the fire. It cited “no interruptions, electrical or operational anomalies, until more than an hour after the reported time of the start of the fire.”
SoCal Edison’s report states that “to date, no fire agencies has suggested or requested removal and retention any SCE equipment.”
“SCE is aware that a lawsuit relating to the Eaton Fire has been filed, but the complaint has not been served yet. SCE will examine the complaint once it has been received. Southern California Edison spokesperson said that the cause of fire is still being investigated.
In a statement issued last week, SoCal Edison stated that as part of their public safety power shutdown program, the distribution lines directly to the west and immediately adjacent to Eaton Cayon had been energized long before the reported time of the start of the fire.
SoCal Edison’s spokesperson stated, “We remain committed to helping our communities through this difficult period.”
Pacific Palisades
Separately, over a dozen victims Department of Water and Power LADWP allege that water supply failures contributed to the damages from the fire.
The complaint against LADWP was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by residents and a pizza restaurant owner from the affected area. It claims that the country’s largest municipal utility, LADWP, should have maintained water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir which, it claimed, had been empty for almost a year.
In a press release, Roger Behle said that the water supply system serving Pacific Palisades had failed miserably. Residents and firefighters were left with very little water to fight the fire.
LADWP, in defending its water system, cited the “unprecedented extreme water demand” to fight the fire without aerial support as the reason for the lack of water pressure. The utility was unable to supply water at some hydrants located in higher elevations, but “immediately dispatched water tankers” for firefighting.
LADWP has launched its own investigation into “water resiliency” and “how we can improve our position to respond to climate change impacts,” the utility stated in a announcement.
The fires in the LA area have killed 25 people and destroyed over 12,000 buildings. They also burned more than 60 square kilometers. Officials said that the two largest wildfires — Palisades, and Eaton – continue to burn uncontrollably.
