Christian Force, a Los Angeles County resident and research fellow at the California-based Independent Institute, says locals are wondering where their tax money is going as officials struggle to stop the devastating wildfires.
A California utility company is facing a pile of lawsuits claiming its equipment started the Eaton Fire, one of the largest of several that broke out last week and is still Los Angeles area is burning,
Southern California Edison, owned by Edison International, was hit with four lawsuits on Monday, all of which accuse the company of instigating the fires, according to the Los Angeles Times. eaton fire That alone burned more than 14,000 acres of land, destroyed more than 2,700 structures, and killed 15 people.
On January 7, 2025, high winds caused the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California, destroying homes. (David McNew/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of homeowners, tenants, business owners and others with properties destroyed by the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena area.
At least 24 people have died and more than 90,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes since multiple fires began last Tuesday. Officials said more than two dozen people were reported missing.
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Eaton Fire in the East Foothills city of los angeles According to one complaint, it is the second most destructive inferno in California history.
The suit cites multiple eyewitness accounts and images that appeared to show the fire quickly spreading at the base of a transmission tower owned by Southern California Edison (SCE) before powerful Santa Ana wind gusts.
Power transmission lines following the Eaton fire in the hills above Altadena, California, on January 13, 2025. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The lawsuits say Edison’s infrastructure in the area was still active at the time of the fire. Last Wednesday, Southern California Edison said its distribution lines west of Eaton Canyon had been de-energized well before the reported time of the fire.
“Our hearts are with our communities during the devastating wildfires in Southern California and we are 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 dedicated to safely restoring power to our customers.”
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“We have been given a complaint about litigation relating to the Eaton fire,” the spokesman admitted. “SCE will review the complaint. Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing,” he said.
Southern California Edison workers replace a transformer on Holt Street in Santa Ana, California on September 10, 2021. The company is accused in the lawsuit of starting the Eaton Fire. (Paul Bursebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/via Getty Images)
| anchor | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EIX | Edison International | 58.69 | +1.47 |
+2.57% |
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Edison International shares fell It rose nearly 12% to $57.24 on Monday. They have declined by about 27% since the fires last week.
Reuters contributed to this report.
