• The US Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison over negligence linked to deadly wildfires.
• The lawsuits claim Edison’s faulty infrastructure ignited the Eaton Fire, resulting in 19 deaths and significant property damage.
• Prosecutors are seeking over $77 million in damages for fire suppression and recovery costs from the fires.
• The investigation into the fires is ongoing, with Southern California Edison expressing commitment to wildfire mitigation.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE), holding the utility responsible for the Eaton Fire, which resulted in 19 fatalities and destroyed over 10,000 structures. The lawsuits claim negligence due to the company's failure to properly maintain its power and transmission infrastructure, which allegedly caused the fire. The legal action is part of a broader effort to hold Edison accountable for safety practices, and the government is seeking more than $40 million for the damages related to the Eaton Fire, in addition to about $37 million for the Fairview Fire in 2022, which also saw damaging outcomes, according to Los Angeles Times, ABC News, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

The Eaton Fire, alongside the Fairview Fire, epitomizes the ongoing issues related to utility negligence in fire-prone regions of California. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli highlighted a "troubling pattern of negligence" in his statements, suggesting that the outcomes of these incidents have led to unnecessary loss of life and extensive federal expenditures for cleanup. He stressed, “But for Edison’s negligence, these fires would not have started,” emphasizing the imminent need for reform in the utility company's practices to mitigate future fire risks, as stated by Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

While SCE has acknowledged the lawsuits, they maintain that investigations are still underway to determine the precise causes of the fires. An Edison spokesperson expressed the company's commitment to enhancing wildfire prevention measures, including investments in grid hardening and operational improvements. The ongoing scrutiny of SCE's practices reflects a broader trend in California, where utility companies face increasing pressure to improve fire prevention protocols amidst changes in climate and land management, according to ABC News, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.