Christian Fors, a Los Angeles County resident and research fellow at the California-based Independent Institute, says locals are wondering how much of their tax dollars will go as officials struggle to contain the devastating wildfires.
A California utility company is facing a pile of lawsuits alleging that its equipment sparked the Eaton Fire, one of the largest of several fires that broke out last week and still so far. Burning in the Los Angeles area.
Southern California Edison, owned by Edison International, was hit with four lawsuits on Monday, all of which accuse the company of starting the fire, according to the Los Angeles Times. Eaton fire Alone, it burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 2,700 buildings and left 15 people dead.
Homes burn as strong winds ignite the Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025, in Pasadena, California. (David McNew/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of homeowners, renters, business owners and others whose properties were destroyed by the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena area.
At least 24 people have died since multiple fires broke out last Tuesday, and more than 90,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes. Authorities said more than twenty people were missing.
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The Eaton Fire is in the foothills to the east City of Los Angeles It is the second most destructive inferno in California history, according to one complaint.
The lawsuits cited numerous eyewitness accounts and photos that appear to show a fire at the base of a transmission tower owned by Southern California Edison (SCE) before strong Santa Ana winds quickly spread the flames.
Power transmission lines after the Eaton Fire in the hills above Altadena, California, on January 13, 2025. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Edison infrastructure in the area was still active at the time of the fire, the lawsuits say. Last Wednesday, Southern California Edison said its distribution lines immediately west of Eaton Canyon had been de-energized long before the fire began.
“Our thoughts remain with our communities during the devastating fires here in Southern California and we remain committed to supporting them during this difficult time,” an SCE spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement. “SCE crews, contractors and mutual aid partners are committed to safely restoring power for our customers.”
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“We have received a lawsuit complaint related to the Eaton fire,” the company spokesperson admitted, adding, “SCE will review the complaint. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.”
Workers at Southern California Edison replace a transformer on Holt Street in Santa Ana, California on September 10, 2021. The company is accused in lawsuits of starting the Eaton Fire. (Paul Bercebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via/Getty Images)
| tape | protection | last | It changes | % changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| axis | Edison International | 58.69 | +1.47 |
+2.57% |
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Edison International Stocks fell Nearly 12% to $57.24 on Monday. It has decreased by about 27% since the fires broke out last week.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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