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The U.S. Department of Justice has taken aim at Southern California Edison (SCE), filing a pair of lawsuits Thursday that accuse the utility giant of negligence in two catastrophic wildfires that killed 21 people and destroyed vast swaths of Southern California. The government is seeking a combined $77 million in damages.

Eaton Fire: A Deadly Inferno

In its 14-page complaint, federal prosecutors allege that Edison’s failure to maintain its electrical infrastructure sparked the Eaton fire on Jan. 7, 2024, amid howling Santa Ana winds. The blaze ripped through Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, killing 19 people and devastating the unincorporated community of Altadena.

The DOJ is demanding more than $40 million in damages, citing negligence, trespass by fire, breach of easement, and violations of California’s health, safety, and public resources codes. The fire torched federal land, destroyed fire detection systems, service roads, campgrounds, and even threatened endangered wildlife.

Fairview Fire: Thousands of Acres Lost

The second lawsuit targets Edison for the Fairview fire, which ignited on Sept. 5, 2022, tearing through nearly 14,000 acres of the San Bernardino National Forest, killing two people. For that disaster, the federal government seeks $37 million, including $20 million in firefighting costs shouldered by the U.S. Forest Service.

DOJ: “A Troubling Pattern of Negligence”

Announcing the lawsuits, acting U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli blasted Edison’s track record.

“The lawsuits filed today allege a troubling pattern of negligence resulting in death, destruction, and tens of millions of taxpayer dollars spent to clean up one utility company’s mistakes,” Essayli said at a press conference.

He warned Edison would not be allowed to shift its liability onto customers. “Hardworking Californians should not pick up the tab for Edison’s negligence,” he said.

Essayli added that the government is confident Edison’s equipment sparked the Eaton fire, citing evidence from federal investigators and even Edison’s own regulatory filings.

More Fires Under Investigation

The Palisades fire, which erupted on the same windy January day and devastated parts of Malibu and the Pacific Palisades, remains under federal investigation. Essayli suggested further legal action may follow once more evidence is gathered.

Mounting Legal Pressure on Edison

Edison is already facing a storm of litigation, from homeowners and families to insurers and shareholders, who accuse the company of knowing for years that its lines posed wildfire risks. Thursday’s lawsuits add federal weight to that barrage.

Government attorneys Bilal A. Essayli, David M. Harris, Daniel A. Beck, Margaret M. Chen, and Paul Bart Green are handling the case for the DOJ. Counsel for Edison has not yet been identified, and the utility did not immediately respond to requests for comment.