Dozens of lawsuits have been launched against Southern California Edison, a California electrical utility company, alleging that equipment owned by the company is responsible for igniting hundreds of fires over the past several years.

What is Southern California Edison?

Southern California Edison is an electricity supplier for approximately 15 million people across 50,000 square miles in the Fresno area of California. According to a statement released by the company on Oct. 30, 2018, they have admitted that they believe their electrical equipment may have initiated at least part of the Thomas fire.

According to their statement, Southern California Edison believes there were at least two origins for the fire, and that their equipment was related to only one of them. The equipment in question is being inspected and analyzed for details on how it may be connected to the start of the fire.

Background on the Thomas Fire

According to the LA Times, electrical equipment owned by California’s three largest utilities–Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric–ignited more than 2,000 fires in a three and a half year period. These fires included the Thomas fire, which at the time was the largest California fire in recent history.

The fire began in December 2017 and blazed until mid-January 2018, burning more than 280,000 acres of land and causing more than $2.2 billion worth of damages. Most of the damage caused by the fire occurred in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. This fire was also responsible for the deaths of two people, one of whom was a firefighter.

Wildfire Lawsuits

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against Southern California Edison and other California electrical utilities regarding the Thomas fire. According to the VC Star, more than 2,000 plaintiffs in 84 cases are seeking damages from Southern California Edison following the catastrophic fire.

Along with local businesses and individuals, the plaintiffs in these lawsuits include the cities of Ventura and Santa Barbara, as well as Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and the Montecito Fire Protection District. The plaintiffs are suing for damages including property damage, agricultural damage, loss of business income, injuries, and other damages.

If you suffered property damage related to the recent California wildfires, you may be entitled to compensation. Qualifying damages may include damage to structures and buildings, damage to landscaping and trees, damage to fencing, and erosion due to damaged vegetation or fire-related mudslides. Additionally, you may qualify for damages for emotional distress, injuries, business income loss, agricultural loss, or other related damages. Even if you have already received compensation from an insurance claim, you may still qualify to join a free Thomas fire lawsuit investigation.