"ALTADENA, Calif. -- Southern California Edison has filed lawsuits accusing Los Angeles County, local water agencies and the Southern California Gas Company of a series of missteps that the utility says made last year's Eaton Fire more deadly. The utility filed cross-complaints in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday against Los Angeles County, Pasadena Water and Power and five other water agencies, KABC-TV reported. SoCal Edison also filed a separate court complaint against SoCalGas."
"The fire that ignited on Jan. 7, 2025, killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 homes and other structures. It took firefighters nearly a month to extinguish the blaze, which scorched 22 square miles (57 square kilometers). The cause remains under investigation, but evidence suggests one of the utility's idled power lines might have sparked the fire. SoCal Edison claims in the lawsuits that Los Angeles County agencies failed to send timely evacuation warnings to residents in east and west Altadena."
"The utility also claims water agencies, including Pasadena Water and Power, did not provide enough water as the fire spread, leaving firefighters with limited resources. In a separate court filing, SoCal Edison blames SoCalGas, claiming the gas utility did not begin widespread shutoffs until four days after the fire started. SoCal Edison says gas leaks and gas-fed fires helped fuel the blaze."
On Jan. 7, 2025, a wildfire in Altadena killed 19 people, destroyed more than 9,400 homes and structures, and burned 22 square miles. Southern California Edison filed cross-complaints against Los Angeles County and several water agencies and a separate complaint against Southern California Gas Company, alleging missteps that increased the fire's lethality. SoCal Edison alleges county agencies failed to send timely evacuation warnings to east and west Altadena residents and alleges water agencies did not supply enough water for firefighting. SoCal Edison also alleges SoCalGas delayed widespread gas shutoffs for four days, contributing gas leaks and gas-fed fires. Pasadena rejected SoCal Edison's claims and asserts utility equipment caused the fire. SoCal Edison faces 998 lawsuits and a DOJ suit over National Forest damage.
Read at ABC30 Fresno
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