A Thomas Fire lawsuit between Santa Barbara County and California utility company Southern California Edison has resulted in a 28 million dollar settlement for the county.

Southern California Edison Settlement to Cover Costs of Road Repairs

Santa Barbara County received an award of $28.1 million as part of a settlement between the county and a California utilities provider that has been found responsible for causing several California wildfires, including the Thomas Fire of 2017. The settlement follows almost two years of litigation between the county and Southern California Edison, the utilities provider.

The Thomas Fire is believed to have been sparked by Southern California Edison’s electrical equipment. Much of this equipment was old, or in a state of disrepair. Due to a lack of maintenance, it is believed that the faulty equipment combined with dry vegetation and windy conditions to start the devastating blaze.

According to Santa Barbara County, the Thomas Fire has resulted in $94 million worth of expenses. The Thomas Fire burned across more than 280,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 buildings before it was contained. It also caused the death of a firefighter.

In addition to the damage directly caused by the blaze, the loss of vegetation due to the fire resulted in soil erosion and mud and debris flows. These mudslides are responsible for the deaths of 19 people. The debris flows also resulted in damage to Montecito roads in 2018.

These debris flows caused extensive damage to some sections of road in the Montecito area. In addition to damage caused directly by the mud and debris, removing the debris and clearing the roads also took a toll. It took approximately 50,000 truck trips to remove the debris from the area after the slides, causing extreme wear and tear on the roads and reducing the lifespan of the roads by 10 to 20 years. Around $10 million of the settlement is expected to go towards making repairs to the damaged roads. At least 60 priority road sections have been noted by the Public Works Department.

Previous settlements between Southern California Edison and public entities including the Montecito Water District and the city of Santa Barbara have resulted in payouts of over $150 million.

California Fire Settlements

In addition to damaging roads and public areas, California fires have also destroyed residents’ homes, outbuildings, businesses, landscaping, natural vegetation, and fencing. As many recent California fires are believed to have been caused by faulty equipment owned by Southern California Edison or other California utility providers, these companies may be liable for covering the costs of these damages. Even if you have already received an insurance payout for damages sustained due to California wildfires, you may be able to recoup additional compensation. Hiring a qualified attorney to review your case may help you to determine whether you qualify to join or file a class action lawsuit regarding California wildfires.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.