Federal government sues California utility, alleging equipment sparked deadly wildfires
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Federal Government filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison on Thursday, and claimed that the equipment of public service caused fires in January in January, including fire in the Los Angeles region, which destroyed more than 9,400 structures and killed 17 people.
US lawyer Bill Essayli said in a statement on Thursday, “the cases opened today, a public service company spent to clean the mistakes of death, destruction and tens of millions of federal taxpayers that resulted in the dollar claims that there is a disturbing pattern of negligence.” He said.
Files claim that Edison could not properly maintain the power and transmission infrastructure in the region where Eaton Fire was holding on January 7. Federal requires more than $ 40 million damage to the state and local governments.
Edison spokesman Jeff Monford said that public service has reviewed the cases.
Monford, “We continue to work to reduce the likelihood of starting a forest fire of our equipment,” he said. “Southern California Edison is determined to reduce forest fire through grilled hardening, situational awareness and advanced operational practices.”
The company said that in the Eaton Canyon region, three transmission tower facing the legal personality of Altadena, which was destroyed by the fire. In the first reports to the California Public Service Commission, Edison said that Eaton Fire had found a “error” in one of the transmission lines when it started.
July 31, the US Securities and Stock Exchange Commission report, although the public service, equipment is responsible for the fire, although not “certainly”, the region’s transmission facilities in the region can be associated with the start of the fire, “conditional evidence”, he said.
In addition, according to the report in the case, he said, “He is not aware of the evidence pointing to another possible ignition source,” he said.
Although the investigation into the fire still continued, Essayli said that the government is sure of progressing with the case, especially the fire season is rapidly approaching.
“There’s no reason to wait, Ess said Essayli. “We believe that the evidence is erroneous and according to their own assumptions, no one else is wrong.”
A second case filed on Thursday claims that Edison’s negligence led to an increase in FairView fire in September 2022, which roasted the National Forest of San Bernardino in Riverside County.
According to the file, Hemet, operated by Edison, contacted a Frontier Communications Messenger cable in California, creating sparks and firing the following vegetation.
This fire burned more than 21 miles (54 square kilometers) by killing two people and destroying 44 structures. The government requires a $ 37 million loss by US forest services.
Essayli, Edison’un public service rates by increasing the payment for the case will seek conditions, he said.
A few Altadena residents who lost their homes He filed a lawsuit against Edison in JanuaryDays after the fire breaks. His lawyers said they believe that Edison’s equipment caused it and pointed out the video taken in the first minutes showing a big fire just below the electric towers.
Los Angeles District Edison was sued in MarchLooking for hundreds of millions of dollars for the costs and damages from fire.
