PUSD Board Votes to Sue Southern California Edison Over Eaton Fire

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to pursue litigation against Southern California Edison and other defendants to recover damages resulting from the catastrophic Eaton fire that devastated the community in January.

The 7-0 vote took place during a closed session of the Board’s special meeting on March 14, with the decision announced when the public portion of the meeting resumed.

“Today the Board voted seven to zero to initiate litigation against responsible defendants including Southern California Edison to recover damages resulting from the Eaton fire,” said the Board member identified as Speaker 2 in the meeting transcript after emerging from closed session.

The Eaton Fire in January 2025 substantially damaged or destroyed five campuses within the Pasadena Unified School District. These include: Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Franklin Elementary (which was already closed in 2020 but sustained about 80% damage), Edison Charter School, Loma Alta Charter School, and Noyes Charter School.

The school District’s legal action follows a similar decision by the City of Pasadena, which filed its own lawsuit against the utility company on March 5, seeking compensation for extensive damage to municipal infrastructure.

The Eaton fire, which began on January 7, burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed approximately 9,400 structures, damaged over 1,000 more, and claimed at least 17 lives, according to city records.