Orange County Files Lawsuits Against Southern California Edison and T-Mobile, Accusing Negligence in 2020 Silverado Fire and Coastal Fire
In a shocking turn of events, Orange County has taken legal action against Southern California Edison and T-Mobile, claiming negligence in two devastating fires, namely the Silverado Fire of 2020 and the Coastal Fire from last year.
The lawsuit alleges that an “electrical failure” on a utility pole triggered “an arc that ignited susceptible ground vegetation, resulting in the Coastal Fire.” The fire broke out on May 11, 2022, near Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in Laguna Niguel, adjacent to the Orange County Wastewater Authority Coastal Treatment Plant at 28303 Alicia Parkway. It raged for six days, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The lawsuit further asserts that the Coastal Fire occurred due to Southern California Edison’s negligence in maintaining its overhead electrical facilities properly. The utility allegedly failed to identify, inspect, repair, and replace various electrical equipment on a utility pole that posed a risk of failure.
Moreover, the county claims that the utility neglected to clear away vegetation that served as fuel for the fire. It is worth noting that the utility had been aware of previous fires caused by electrical equipment, including the 2017 Thomas Fire, the 2018 Woolsey Fire, and the 2019 Easy Fire.
According to the lawsuit, the Coastal Fire consumed around 200 acres of land, destroyed 20 homes, and damaged 11 other structures. Approximately 900 residents had to evacuate their homes, leaving their lives shattered.
“These lawsuits aim to recover taxpayer dollars that were spent by the county to protect the public from the damages caused by those responsible,” stated Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Don Wagner.
Diane Castro, spokesperson for Edison, responded to the allegations, saying, “Our thoughts are with the communities impacted by the Silverado and Coastal Fires. Southern California Edison fully cooperated with the Orange County Fire Authority in its investigations. As the legal proceedings are ongoing, it would not be appropriate for us to comment beyond the scope of the legal process.”
The Silverado Fire erupted on October 26, 2020, at Santiago Canyon and Silverado Canyon roads. Over the course of twelve days, it engulfed approximately 12,466 acres, destroying multiple structures and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. Numerous schools had to close down as well, amplifying the impact of the disaster.
According to the lawsuit, Edison informed the California Public Utilities Commission that a “lashing wire” connected to an underbuilt telecommunication line may have come into contact with an Edison overhead primary conduit, potentially sparking the fire.
The lawsuit implicates T-Mobile, claiming that the lashing wire belonged to the telecommunications company.
T-Mobile has yet to respond to a request for comment regarding the lawsuits filed in Orange County Superior Court.
Supervisor Katrina Foley, whose district includes Laguna Niguel, demands justice for the destruction caused by the utilities. She asserts, “We demand that the utilities responsible for the destruction of county assets, increased expenses, reduced revenues, and environmental damages reimburse the county. In 2022, the California State Auditor found that the utilities are not doing enough to reduce wildfire threats throughout the state of California. We have a duty to protect our taxpayers and county assets.”
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
