LA County, Pasadena and Sierra Madre file lawsuits against SoCal Edison over Eaton Fire

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Southern California Edison, hoping to recover costs and damages caused by the Eaton Fire.

The lawsuit was filed against SCE and Edison International (SCE) and alleges that SCE's equipment caused the deadly blaze, requiring the county to incur "massive costs responding to the fire and its aftermath."

"The Eaton Fire devastated the unincorporated community of Altadena, destroying County parks, a nature center, multiple trails, and other essential community infrastructure," read a press release from the county. "Numerous County departments and employees responded and are continuing to assist residents impacted by the fire's destruction. The County quickly staffed and continues to offer resources at a Disaster Recovery Center in Altadena to help residents and businesses navigate the extensive hardships they are facing due to the fire. 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 county's lawsuit claims that witnesses, photos, and videos show the fire started directly under SCE transmission lines in Eaton Canyon.

The cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre are also filing lawsuits against SCE for "damages to taxpayer resources and public infrastructure incurred from the fire."

"The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena's operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild," said Pasadena Public Information Officer. "While our restoration efforts continue, we have a responsibility to pursue appropriate compensation for the costs of rebuilding the public infrastructure our community relies upon."

Pasadena's lawsuit listed extensive damage to several municipal assets including, among others:

• The Pasadena Police Department's Advanced Officer Training Facility

• The Pasadena Municipal Assistance, Solutions, and Hiring (MASH) building and fleet

• Critical water management infrastructure including storage tanks

"Our focus remains on the full restoration of services to Pasadena residents and businesses," Derderian said. "By working collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions, we can more effectively address the devastating impacts this fire has had on our communities while ensuring that those responsible are held accountable."

The Eaton Fire burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 9,000 structures and resulted in 17 deaths.

L.A. County's lawsuit claims that the Eaton Fire has "massively impacted the County's natural resources, harmed the environment and wildlife, and threatened public health."

A spokesperson with Southern California Edison released a statement Wednesday morning, saying "Our hearts are with the communities affected by the wildfires in Southern California. We are reviewing the lawsuits that were recently filed and will address them through the appropriate legal process."