Lawsuit accuses power company of involvement in Los Angeles wildfires: NPR

The Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, destroyed businesses along Lake Boulevard. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the cause of last week's fire and other fires in Los Angeles.

Zoe Meyers/Getty Images

hide title

Switch title

Zoe Meyers/Getty Images

At least two lawsuits have been filed against Southern California Edison, arguing that faulty wires may have started the Eaton Fire, which killed at least 16 people and destroyed more than 1,000 buildings.

Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have not determined the cause of the fires; the agency said it has just begun investigating the still-burning Eaton and Palisades wildfires. But that hasn't stopped speculation.

For days, social media accounts have been flooded with videos and so-called eyewitness accounts that appear to show fires under the Eaton Canyon power lines. The posts raised questions about whether the power company was responsible.

Southern California Edison spokesperson Gabriela Ornelas told NPR that her company was aware of the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court but had not yet been served or had an opportunity to review the complaint as of Monday evening.

“Our thoughts are with our communities during the devastating fires in Southern California and we remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time,” Ornelas said. “SCE will review complaints as they are received, The cause of the fire is still under investigation.”

Watch some of the most horrific and dramatic images of California wildfire devastation

Ali Moghaddas, an attorney with the law firm Edelson PC, represents Evangeline Iglesias, an Altadena resident whose home burned down. He said the lawsuit was filed quickly to preserve potential evidence that could help reconstruct the scene later in court.

The complaint alleges that Southern California Edison violated public safety and utility codes and neglected to safely shut off power during known extreme fire conditions and high winds.

Southern California Edison and other power companies said they followed California Public Utilities Commission guidelines and shut off power early during the height of the fires.

In an interview with ABC News earlier Monday, Pedro Pizarro, CEO of Southern California Edison's parent company, said employees remotely monitoring the lines at the time found no signs of electrical anomalies that would normally cause sparks.

“That being said, we haven't been able to get close to the equipment because firefighters have deemed the area unsafe to enter,” Pizarro said. As told to ABC's George Stephanopoulos. “So once we get close to it, we're going to be inspecting it and being transparent with the public.”

Evacuees from the Palisades Fire appear at the Westwood Recreation Center, which was used as a shelter, on January 8, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. On January 7, the hurricane raged as fierce wildfires engulfed buildings and triggered panic evacuations. through the area.

Mogadas said the utility's response was a pattern they have used in the past to avoid responsibility, and claimed the company was not transparent about exactly which lines and transmission towers were down during last year's Santa Ana wind peak. Week.

“They had the tools to try to mitigate the possibility of this wildfire, but they chose to ignore those warnings,” Mogadas told NPR. “They did not do what they were supposed to do as alleged in our complaint. ”

Southern California Edison has paid hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements for at least seven other wildfires in recent years, including an $80 million settlement with the U.S. Forest Service for the 2017 Thomas Fire; China paid an $80 million settlement to Los Angeles County. 2020 Bobcat Fire.