City Files Lawsuit Against Southern California Edison for Damages to Public Infrastructure in Eaton Fire

On Wednesday, the City of Pasadena filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) seeking compensation for extensive damages sustained to municipal property and infrastructure during the devastating Eaton Fire that began on January 7.

The Eaton Fire, which spread rapidly through wind-driven conditions, destroyed critical community assets throughout the city, including police facilities, water infrastructure, and multiple public service buildings. The fire burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed approximately 9,400 structures, damaged over 1,000 structures, claimed 17 lives, and affected thousands of residents throughout the region.

There were no deaths in Pasadena.

“The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena’s operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild,” said Lisa Derderian, Public Information Officer for the City of Pasadena. “While our restoration efforts continue, we have a responsibility to pursue appropriate compensation for the costs of rebuilding the public infrastructure our community relies upon.”

According to a copy of the complaint obtained by Pasadena Now, the City is suing for inverse condemnation, negligence, trespass, nuisance, premises liability and violations of the health and safety code.

“Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that the Eaton Fire ignited during a high wind event forecasted by the National Weather Service, below a transmission tower carrying high-voltage power lines and electrical equipment designed, owned, managed, and maintained by Edison, resulting in fire to the surrounding vegetation,” the complaint reads. “There is clear evidence from video footage, photographs, and witness statements that the fire was caused by Edison’s equipment.”

The complaint also reveals several reasons that could have caused the fire and states the fire “occurred because Edison’s utility infrastructure, as intended, constructed, and designed, passed electricity through exposed power lines in highly vegetated areas.”

According to the City’s attorney, Edison negligently failed to maintain vegetation within prescribed California regulations and law concerning vegetation clearance from power lines and its electrical infrastructure; and/or Edison failed to de-energize its electrical circuits to prevent a catastrophic wildfire during the Red Flag Warning that preceded the Eaton Fire.

The fire caused extensive damage to several key municipal assets including, but not limited to the Pasadena Police Department’s advanced officer training facility.

Other buildings impacted by the fire include the Pasadena Municipal Assistance, Solutions, and Hiring (MASH) building and fleet and critical water management infrastructure including storage tanks.

Documentation submitted with the legal filing includes photographic evidence of the fire’s origin point and references to SCE’s own regulatory filings that acknowledge electrical system anomalies coinciding with the fire’s ignition time and location. According to the city’s complaint,

Several videos have emerged which appear to show the fire starting near Edison’s electrical tower.

Edison filed reports with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) acknowledging that a “fault was detected” on its transmission circuit at approximately the same time and location the fire began.

On February 6, SCE sent a letter to the CPUC stating that photographic evidence of its tower shows signs of potential arcing and damage on the grounding equipment.

Weather forecasts in the days preceding the fire had repeatedly warned of extreme fire danger, with the National Weather Service issuing progressively stronger advisories culminating in a Red Flag Warning on the morning of January 7 when winds reached extreme levels.

Los Angeles County and the City of Sierra Madre filed similar suits against Southern California Edison on Wednesday, seeking to recover costs for damages sustained in their respective jurisdictions.

“Our focus remains on the full restoration of services to Pasadena residents and businesses,” Derderian said. “By working collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions, we can more effectively address the devastating impacts this fire has had on our communities while ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”

The City is represented by City Attorney Michele Beal Bagneris, Chief Assistant City Attorney Arnold Lee and Deputy City Attorney Caroline Monroy.

The City also has additional representation from outside counsel John Fiske, Torri Sherlin, and Taylor O’Neal of Baron & Budd P.C., and Ed Diab, Rob Chambers, and Kristen Barton of Diab Chambers LLP, the same legal team supporting Los Angeles County and Sierra Madre in the related litigation.