• Southern California Edison faces numerous lawsuits linked to its alleged role in igniting significant wildfires in Los Angeles.
• The lawsuits have been initiated by homeowners, renters, and business owners impacted by the Eaton Fire, which has devastated parts of Pasadena.
• The wildfires have resulted in at least 24 fatalities and have forced over 90,000 residents to evacuate from their homes.
• The Eaton Fire has engulfed approximately 14,117 acres, making it one of California's most destructive wildfires.
• CEO Pedro Pizarro has stated the company is investigating the events, although they have not identified any electrical anomalies.

On January 13, 2025, Reuters reported that Southern California Edison (SCE), a subsidiary of Edison International, has been hit with several lawsuits alleging that its electrical equipment was responsible for igniting one of the major wildfires currently ravaging the Los Angeles region. This legal action marks the initial wave of lawsuits predicted to reach into the hundreds, arising due to the extensive damage from recent wildfires in Southern California.

The lawsuits, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, represent the collective grievances of homeowners, renters, business owners, and others who have suffered property losses due to the Eaton Fire in Pasadena. Since the fires erupted, at least 24 individuals have lost their lives, with more than 90,000 residents displaced from their homes. Authorities also report over two dozen people are currently unaccounted for.

The Eaton Fire has scorched an estimated 14,117 acres in the foothills east of the city, nearly the size of Manhattan - making it the second most destructive wildfire in Californian history according to court filings. Eyewitness accounts included individuals witnessing flames at the base of SCE's transmission towers, including social media footage of the incident shared by witnesses.

SCE's CEO, Pedro Pizarro, confirmed in a morning TV interview that the company is actively investigating the situation and has yet to identify any electrical issues coinciding with the start of the fire, replying, "It's pretty typical you see those when you have a spark coming from equipment." He added, "There could be some other mechanism here. Unfortunately, we have not been able to get close to the lines yet."

The company has faced a drop in stock prices following these events, with shares falling nearly 12% on January 13, leading to a 27% decline since the wildfires began. SCE indicated they filed safety incident reports on both the Eaton and Hurst fires in early January. They also mentioned receiving notifications from insurance companies to preserve evidence, while noting that no fire agency has attributed the ignition to the utility's equipment thus far. However, in their report on the Hurst fire, they acknowledged finding a downed conductor in the area, although it remains unclear whether this occurred before or after the fire ignited.

For more detailed information, visit Al Jazeera.