Southern California Edison has agreed to pay a record-breaking $82.5 million settlement due to allegations that the utility sparked a massive blaze in Los Angeles County.
Driving the news: The lawsuit pertains to the Bobcat Fire, which burned for over 80 days and scorched 116,000 acres in the fall of 2020.
- The federal government accused the fire of being sparked on September 6, 2020, due to trees coming into contact with SCE power lines, and alleged that Edison and its tree maintenance contractor did not properly maintain these trees to prevent potential fires.
- The fire caused extensive damage to public lands and habitats of federally protected species, destroyed 171 structures, damaged 47 others, and displaced thousands of residents while covering much of Southern California under a dense cloud of acrid smoke.
- More than 100 miles of trails and multiple National Forest campgrounds were closed for years by the Bobcat Fire, making it one of the largest and most expensive fires in the county’s history.
The big picture: The settlement with SCE will assist the federal government in recouping costs of battling the blaze, estimated to have exceeded $100 million.
- The funds from the settlement will be utilized to rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats and strengthen the forest’s resilience to future wildfires.
- As part of the agreement, Edison did not admit fault or wrongdoing, and the settlement was reached on May 14, with Edison having 60 days to complete its payment.
