The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Southern California Edison (SCE) have agreed to resolve a federal lawsuit over property damage and firefighting costs related to the 2020 Bobcat Fire, according to court documents filed this month.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California filed the lawsuit against SCE and co-defendant Utility Tree Service (UTS) in September of last year, alleging that fire centered around the Angeles National Forest was sparked by a tree that came into contact with a power line. The defendants knew of this hazard for months but failed to provide adequate maintenance, the lawsuit said.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit filed a notice of a proposed settlement on Dec. 4 after private mediation and requested that federal Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha stay proceedings in the lawsuit for 120 days pending review of the settlement by the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.. Aenlle-Rocha agreed to pause further legal proceedings on Dec. 10.
The blaze burned more than 114,577 acres, with nearly 100,000 acres of the affected area within federal forest land, according to the plaintiff’s attorneys. In the original lawsuit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also sought reimbursement of more than $56 million in fire-suppression costs and more than $65 million to cover damage to natural resources.
“The fire threatened 6,235 structures, destroyed 171 structures, damaged 47 structures, destroyed 178 vehicles and caused many people to evacuate from their homes,” the lawsuit states. “... The fire effects have been, and will be, detrimental to habitats and wildlife, including the federally endangered wildlife-mountain yellowlegged frog and other federally threatened fish and birds. The fire also damaged and destroyed irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources.”
The complaint pointed out that the fire damage forced the shutdown of more than 100 miles of hiking trails and several campgrounds in the damaged forest area for nearly three years.
An SCE spokesperson, Gabriela Ornelas, emphasized that the company would respond to issues raised in the complaint through the court proceedings.
“We continue to be committed to wildfire mitigation through enhanced operational practices, situational awareness and grid hardening,” Ornelas said in an email to the Southern California Record.
The blaze, which began on Sept. 6, 2020, resulted in a widespread evacuation of residents in the region north of Pasadena.
“Forest Service investigators determined that the Bobcat Fire ignited due to a tree in contact with power lines (conductors) owned and operated by SCE and maintained by SCE and UTS,” the lawsuit says. “The contact resulted in ignition of vegetation on a branch, which fell to the ground and spread.”
The complaint also sought double or triple damages for damage to timber, trees and underwood, as well as compensation for investigation costs and loss of scenic views and “aesthetic values.”
The Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office said in December of last year that it negotiated an agreement with SCE for more than $80 million over damages claims related to county jurisdictions as a result of the Bobcat Fire. The fire was the second largest blaze in the history of the county, the county counsel reported.
Previously scheduled pretrial filings in May and June of next year will be cancelled if the parties in the federal lawsuit approve the settlement, according to federal court records.