At least nine plaintiffs have banded together to file a class action lawsuit against Southern California Edison, alleging that the utility sparked the biggest wildfire in the state’s modern history. According to an ABC news report, the lawsuit alleges that the Thomas Fire, which burned in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in December, could have been prevented “had SCE acted responsibly.”
The massive wildfire burned about 281,893 acres and wasn’t fully contained until Jan. 12. By Dec. 22, the Thomas Fire had cost more than $177 million to fight, forced over 104,607 residents to evacuate, destroyed at least 1,063 structures and damaged 280 others. This was documented as the seventh-most destructive wildfire in California’s history and the largest wildfire in modern California history.
SoCal Edison Lawsuit Alleges Negligence
The class action lawsuit alleges that the utility company displayed negligence by performing construction near a facility unsafely, causing the vegetation to catch fire. It also failed to maintain its overhead electric and communications facilities safely and did not remove trees or vegetation around its utility poles.
The complaint explicitly names Ventura City and Casitas Municipal Water District as defendants for failing to have working generators on hand that could have aided with water pressure.
The lawsuit states that, for some “inexplicable reason,” the city did not have properly functioning backup generators, which prevented water pressure from being supplied to fire hydrants in Ventura’s hillside neighborhoods and canyons. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Responsibility of Utility Companies
Edison is not the only utility company associated with some of the most devastating fires. A downed PG&E power line is also believed to have caused the catastrophic October 2017 Northern California firestorm that killed at least 44 people and hospitalized about 185. Utility companies must act responsibly by maintaining their infrastructure and clearing brushes around transformers, poles, and other equipment that could spark a fire.
In such cases, victims or their families may file individual lawsuits or band together and file a class action lawsuit, depending on the nature and extent of the loss. An experienced class action lawyer in California will be able to advise victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/thomas-fire-victims-file-class-action-lawsuit-california/story?id=52161462
