SoCal Edison sues LA County, several agencies over Eaton Fire liability

Southern California Edison filed a lawsuit against LA County and several other agencies alleging that their failures contributed to the death and destruction from the Eaton Fire.

SoCal Edison and its parent company, Edison International (EIX), are being sued by thousands of residents who allege faulty power lines sparked the blaze that killed 19 people.

In the cross-complaint filed Friday, the utility company says several government agencies and local water companies also played major roles in the destruction.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and emergency alert vendor Genasys are among those named in the complaint, citing a delay in evacuation alerts in West Altadena.

SoCal Edison also alleges that LA County failed to label Altadena as a high-risk fire zone, which could have prompted stricter vegetation management requirements. Six water agencies are also in the complaint, as well as SoCalGas.

“These actions are a standard legal process that allows the court to fully examine all potential contributing factors and responsible parties. Southern California Edison remains committed to the communities impacted by the January fires and to supporting their recovery,” said SoCal Edison spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy.

LA County and other agencies in the complaint did not immediately respond to NBCLA’s request for comment.

The Eaton Fire grew to 14,000 acres, leaving 19 people dead and destroying 9,400 structures. It is the fifth-deadliest and second-most destructive wildfire in California history.

SoCal Edison began offering compensation through the Wildlife Recovery Compensation Program in September, promising expedited payments for various types of damage or destruction by the January wildfire.

The company did not say who received the compensation, and how much the person/household received.

Since September, a total of 1,551 claims have been made by 3,293 families and households to receive compensation payments, the utility said.