US Government Sues Southern California Edison Over 2019 Saddle Ridge Fire
Federal prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison, alleging that the company’s equipment was responsible for igniting the 2019 Saddle Ridge fire. The fire, which burned nearly 9,000 acres and damaged or destroyed over 100 homes in the San Fernando Valley, resulted in the loss of at least one life.
The complaint, filed in US District Court in Los Angeles, claims that Edison was negligent in designing, constructing, and maintaining its high-voltage transmission line that runs through Sylmar. The equipment on this line is now suspected of causing not only the 2019 Saddle Ridge fire but also the Hurst fire on January 7.
Allegations of Negligence and Equipment Failure
Lawyers for the victims of the Saddle Ridge fire argue that they have evidence showing the transmission line is not properly grounded, leading to two wildfires in six years. However, Edison’s lawyers have dismissed these claims as an “exotic ignition theory” that is incorrect. The federal government is seeking to recover costs for the damage caused by the 2019 fire, including the destruction of 800 acres of national forest and the loss of wildlife and habitats.
The lawsuit also requests reimbursement for the federal government’s costs of fighting the fire. According to the complaint, “The ignition of the Saddleridge Fire by SCE’s power and transmission lines and equipment is prima facie evidence of SCE’s negligence.” The US government has made a demand on SCE for payment of the costs and damages incurred, but the company has not paid any part of the sum.
Response from Southern California Edison
David Eisenhauer, an Edison spokesman, stated that the company is reviewing the federal government’s lawsuit and will respond through the legal process. He also expressed sympathy for the people and communities affected by the fire, saying, “Our hearts are with the people and communities that were affected.”
The 2019 wildfire tore through parts of Sylmar, Granada Hills, and Porter Ranch, causing significant damage and displacement. Residents who witnessed both the Saddle Ridge fire and the Hurst fire reported seeing fires burning under transmission towers on the evenings of the respective fires.
Investigations and Evidence
Government investigations into the Saddle Ridge fire found that the equipment failure on a tower caused a fault and surge in power, which may have traveled along the transmission lines and ignited the dry vegetation underneath one of the towers. Lawyers for the victims claim that the same problem – improperly grounded towers – caused the Hurst fire on January 7.
The evidence will show that five separate fires ignited at five separate SCE transmission tower bases in the same exact manner as the fire that started the Saddle Ridge fire. Residents like Roberto Delgado and his wife, Ninoschka Perez, who can see the towers from their Sylmar home, reported seeing a fire on January 7 under the same tower where investigators say the 2019 fire started.
The family had to quickly flee in the case of each fire, and Delgado expressed his desire to move his family away from the area due to the trauma they experienced. The Jan. 7 fire burned through 799 acres and required thousands of people to evacuate, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it destroyed any homes.
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