DOJ sues SoCal Edison over Eaton Fire, seeking more than $40 million in damages

Source: ABC News

September 4, 2025, 4:09 PM


The Department of Justice is suing Southern California Edison over the Eaton Fire, seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages for alleged negligence it claims led to the deadly fire. The January fire, one of the most destructive in California history, killed 19 people and burned over 14,000 acres in the Los Angeles area, including nearly 8,000 acres of land in the Angeles National Forest, officials said.

A cause remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire. However, the DOJ alleges that the fire was ignited "from faulty power infrastructure owned, maintained, and operated" by Southern California Edison.
MORE: 6 months after Eaton Fire, family that lost 9 homes tries to rebuild

The Justice Department is also suing the utility company for damages caused by the 2022 Fairview Fire in Riverside County, which killed two people and burned over 28,000 acres, including nearly 14,000 acres within the San Bernardino National Forest, officials said.

State fire officials determined the fire started after a SoCal Edison power line came into contact with a Frontier communications messenger cable, creating an arc and causing sparks to fall and ignite the vegetation below.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-sues-socal-edison-eaton-fire/story?id=125264950