Southern California Edison is now suing Santa Barbara County arguing that the county officials should have some responsibility for the deadly mudslides that killed 15 people in January 2018 following a huge wildfire. They allege the county officials should have known about the dangers posed by mudslides.

The wildfire had significant consequences throughout southern California since more the 200,000 residents left their homes. The wildfire destroyed nearly 1,300 structures over 280,000 acres. VC Star reports that the wildfire blaze started near Santa Paula and destroyed 80 percent of the properties in its path.

Southern California Edison alleges that they alone should not be held responsible for Thomas fire property damageconnected to those Montecito mudslides. Rainstorms passed through the region soon after the wildfire was extinguished, which caused a significant flow of debris into the Montecito community.

When a fire begins in areas with plenty of businesses and people, the fire can be difficult to get under control. The property damage associated with such a significant wildfire can also create a mess for homeowners and property owners attempting to repair or rebuild afterward.

Although the wildfire itself caused the vast majority of damage, this is not the only type of damage likely to impact the surrounding area. The influence of the fire on the land can also trigger other serious natural issues, including flooding. If a wildfire happens and is followed shortly by a significant amount of rainfall, the volume of property damage can be greatly amplified.

That’s the argument made by the electric company, which has been blamed at least in part for starting the blaze. A lawsuit argues that Southern California Edison did not carry out proper maintenance and that this failure to do so led to the fire.

The mudslides were linked directly to the Thomas fire, the largest wildfire in California’s recent history. This is because soil that has recently been burned acts like a water repellent, similar to pavement, enabling rainfall that would typically be absorbed into the ground to run off rapidly.  According to ABC news, much less rain would be required to initiate a flash flood as a result of this repellent activity.

That rushing water, debris and mud can cause significant property damage because it can destroy bridges, roadways, and buildings that are miles away from the area originally burned by the Thomas fire.

The lawsuit initiated by Southern California Edison says that county officials failed to reduce the risks in advance by building appropriate debris basins and flood channels. Officials should not have allowed development in areas that were prone to hazards, the company argues.

Southern California Edison stated in their lawsuit that the vast majority of the harm associated with the Montecito mudslides were directly caused by the omissions and negligent acts of the public entities named as defendants in the case.