Homeowners in Southern California are taking legal action against the utility company Southern California Edison (SCE), claiming it’s to blame for the deadly Eaton Fire that tore through the Los Angeles area last week. The lawsuits point to alleged witness accounts and social media videos showing flames erupting under transmission towers in Eaton Canyon.
One of the homeowners, Jeremy Gursey from Altadena, has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. His attorney, Richard Bridgford, shared that their investigation, discussions with experts, and video evidence suggest the fire started because SCE failed to turn off its overhead power lines, even after the National Weather Service issued a red flag wind warning the day before the fire.
According to the lawsuit, SCE should have known that its electrical systems in Eaton Canyon were in a hazardous state. The complaint claims the equipment posed a serious risk of failure, which ultimately led to the fire and caused significant property damage to nearby homes and communities.
At the heart of the lawsuits is the claim that SCE owns, maintains, and controls the transmission and distribution lines running through Eaton Canyon. The plaintiffs allege these systems were in poor condition and contributed to the fire’s ignition.
Gursey’s case is one of several lawsuits filed against SCE. Other plaintiffs include Altadena homeowners whose houses were destroyed and a FedEx employee represented by attorney Ali Moghaddas. Moghaddas argued that SCE was aware of the strong winds predicted that week but didn’t take proper action to prevent the disaster.
Although officials haven’t yet confirmed the exact cause of the fires, some homeowners and their attorneys are moving forward with lawsuits to make sure crucial evidence, like videos and photos, is preserved. Gursey’s lawsuit highlights footage taken by Altadena residents Jennifer and Marcus Errico. The couple reportedly saw the fire begin under a transmission tower across Eaton Canyon from their home on Canyon View Drive in Pasadena. Before evacuating, they snapped photos of the flames.
Another family, Jeffrey and Cheryll Ku, recorded video of the fire from their street on North Harding Avenue in Altadena, showing flames under the same transmission towers. Attorneys believe these images and videos are key pieces of evidence.
Gerald Singleton, another lawyer representing a homeowner affected by the fire, explained why these lawsuits are being filed even while firefighters are still working to contain the blaze, which is only 35% under control. “We need to secure all the evidence while it’s fresh,” he said.
So far, the fires have had a devastating impact. At least 17 people have died in the Eaton Fire, with another eight lives lost in the Palisades Fire, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
SCE spokesperson Jeff Monford said the utility company is aware of the lawsuits but hasn’t officially received them yet. “We’ll review the complaints when we get them,” he said. “The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Our thoughts are with the affected communities, and we’re committed to helping them during this difficult time.”
As residents grieve and rebuild, the lawsuits aim to hold SCE accountable for what many believe could have been prevented.
