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.
