The United States Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison and its tree maintenance contractor, Utility Tree Service, seeking damages for the devastating Bobcat Fire that ravaged Los Angeles County in 2020. The complaint, filed on September 1, alleges that the negligence of these companies led to the ignition of the Bobcat Fire, one of the largest wildfires in the history of Los Angeles County.
Federal prosecutors claim that Southern California Edison and Utility Tree Service failed to adequately maintain trees that came into contact with powerlines, ultimately causing the disastrous blaze. The lawsuit asserts that the fire, which consumed over 114,500 acres, was ignited on September 6, 2020, within the Angeles National Forest when a tree made contact with a power line owned by Southern California Edison and maintained by both companies.
The legal action further alleges that the utility company and its contractor were aware of the risks posed by the tree in question but failed to take any preventive measures.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, Gabriela Ornelas, stated;
"Our thoughts remain with the people who were affected by the Bobcat Fire, who lost homes, vehicles, and were evacuated."
She also mentioned that the company is currently reviewing the Department of Justice's legal action.
Currently, we have not received a response from Utility Tree Service.
The lawsuit claims that the U.S. Forest Service incurred expenses exceeding $56 mn to extinguish the Bobcat Fire. Additionally, the blaze resulted in more than $65 mn in property and natural resource damages, including the destruction of 171 buildings and 178 vehicles. Moreover, the fire severely impacted the environment and wildlife, including federally endangered species like the mountain yellow-legged frog and other threatened fish and birds. Irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources were also damaged or destroyed by the inferno.
The complaint asserts that the public has been deprived of access to more than 100 miles of popular system trails and numerous campgrounds within the burned area in the nearly three years following the fire.
"The fire effects have been and will be, detrimental to habitats and wildlife, including the federally endangered wildlife-mountain yellowlegged frog and other federally threatened fish and birds. The fire also damaged and destroyed irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources," the complaint states
This lawsuit follows a previous incident where Southern California Edison, Utility Tree Service, and Frontier Communications Holdings collectively paid $22 mn to the U.S. government in July. This payment resolved claims linked to a 2016 wildfire in the Los Padres National Forest, which was triggered when a tree fell onto power lines and communication lines owned by Southern California Edison and Frontier. In this settlement, the companies did not admit to any wrongdoing or fault.
The outcome of this new legal battle will likely have significant implications for the utility industry's responsibility for preventing wildfires, particularly in areas susceptible to such natural disasters.
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