Los Angeles County has announced that it is suing Southern California Edison, alleging that the utility’s equipment sparked January’s Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 9,400 structures and killed 17 people in the Altadena area.
In a statement from LA County, they said: “The lawsuit seeks to recover costs and damages sustained from the blaze that damaged “essential community infrastructure” and “massively impacted the County’s natural resources, harmed the environment and wildlife, and threatened public health.”
The County added that costs and damage estimates were expected to total hundreds of millions of dollars, saying that the assessments were ongoing.
Additional costs have been incurred by county departments for ongoing support in assisting residents recovering from the fire’s destruction, according to the lawsuit.
The statement continued: “The County’s case is essential to the restoration and rebuilding process for the community, including residences and businesses, to recover from the devastation.”
The utility has said there is no evidence its equipment started the Eaton Fire. But in required filings with state utility regulators, the utility has reported a fault on a power line connected miles away from those located near the fire’s origin and said it’s looking into whether an idle transmission line became energized and possibly sparked the blaze.
It has separately acknowledged that its equipment may have caused a smaller fire that broke out the same day and was quickly handled.
The county’s complaint alleges that witnesses, photos, and videos indicate the fire started directly under Edison transmission lines in Eaton Canyon. Dozens of other lawsuits have been filed against the utility, including by homeowners who saw their properties destroyed.
County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison said: “We are committed to seeking justice for the Altadena community and the taxpayers of Los Angeles County.”
The county seeks to recoup costs and receive compensation for destroyed infrastructure, recreational areas, parks, road damage, cleanup and recovery efforts, flood and mudslide prevention, workers compensation claims, overtime for workers, lost taxes and more.
Southern California Edison has been sued by Los Angeles County, with the County alleging that utility equipment sparked the Eaton Fire in January 2025.
In a statement by LA County, they said that case is essential to the restoration and rebuilding process for the community, including residences and businesses, to recover from the devastation.
