California Wildfire Lawsuits: LA Residents Blame Utility Companies For Devastation

Since the beginning of 2025, scores of wildfires have erupted across the Greater Los Angeles area, incinerating tens of thousands of acres, destroying countless properties, and killing at least 27 people. As of January 20th, the two most destructive Southern California fires—the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire—are still not entirely contained.

As the wildfires continue to ravage Southern California, residents and business owners are coming forward with disturbing allegations against area utility companies and their roles in the devastation. Several complaints have been filed, and lawyers are currently investigating the litigation’s potential to spark a class action lawsuit—which would allow victims to more easily seek justice for their suffering and loss of property.

Destructive Wildfires Ignite Litigation

Two Greater Los Angeles residents whose lives were upended by the Eaton Fire have filed lawsuits against electric utility company Southern California Edison (SCE). Plaintiffs claim SCE’s negligence resulted in the devastating fire, contributing to widespread destruction and death.  

The lawsuits state that SCE neglected to de-energize power lines and clear brush ahead of high winds, allowing dangerous sparks to ignite flames that led to the out-of-control fire. The utility company had days to prepare, plaintiffs claim, but they chose not to heed forecasts calling for the hazardous winds. According to the complaints, "data shows that there were more than 300 faults" on Southern California Edison’s powerlines in the hours leading up to the fire, indicating the lines’ contact with easily ignitable trees and brush. 

Though investigators have yet to announce an official cause, lawsuits state video and photo evidence—as well as resident testimonies—make it clear that electrical infrastructure failures ignited the blaze in Eaton Canyon. Plantiffs state that videos and photos from the evening of January 7th, when the Eaton Fire began, show the newly ignited flames raging directly beneath an SCE transmission tower.  

As the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigates the claims, Southern California Edison denies involvement in the Eaton Fire. The utility argues there were “no interruptions or electrical or operational anomalies until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire.” SEC also maintains that, in accordance with its power shutoff policy, it did de-energize power lines ahead of the fire.

Southern California Edison isn’t the only utility company under scrutiny. Complaints have also been filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), claiming the utility failed to maintain a water supply adequate to combat the Palisades Fire—a key factor, plaintiffs say, in the inferno’s development into the most destructive in Los Angeles history.   

Lawsuits reference the LADWP’s San Ynez Reservoir, which boasts a massive 117-million-gallon capacity—water that plaintiffs argue should have been available for firefighting efforts. Instead, LADWP allegedly allowed the reservoir to run dry months ago, forcing firefighters to battle the flames with insufficient water. Roger Behle, one plaintiff’s lawyer, said residents and firefighters were left with “little to no water” to extinguish the blaze. The complaints also state that LADWP hydrants lacked sufficient water pressure.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power admits to water pressure issues with some high-elevation hydrants but claims to have “immediately deployed water tankers” in response. Otherwise, LADWP denies responsibility, arguing that insufficient pressure was caused by an "unprecedented and extreme water demand to fight the wildfire without aerial support" rather than a system failure. 

Wildfire Exposure Poses Serious Health Consequences

The California wildfires continue to rage, and thousands have lost homes, property, financial stability, and even loved ones. What’s more, exposure to wildfires is linked to several health conditions in humans, according to the EPA. These include: 

• Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory problems
• Bronchitis
• Diminished lung function
• Worsening of lung diseases like asthma
• Stroke 
• Heart failure and heart attack

Exposure to the chemicals, particulates, and pollutants present in wildfires is thought to lead to cancer and even death. 

Is A Class Action Lawsuit On The Horizon For Wildfire Victims?

With litigation heating up, attorneys are considering the possibility of a class action lawsuit to help more wildfire victims hold these utility companies accountable. A class action lawsuit could make it easier for impacted Southern California residents and business owners to seek compensation for loss of property (including homes, businesses, and personal possessions), medical expenses related to the fire, evacuation costs, loss of wages and business opportunities, pain and suffering, and more. A successful suit could also fund free medical surveillance for those exposed to smoke, helping mitigate the risk of long-term health problems. 

Though Southern California Edison and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power continue to deny their involvement in the Eaton and Palisades Fires, residents of Greater Los Angeles aren’t backing down. More wildfire victims are expected to demand justice as the situation continues to unfold, and these utility companies may soon be forced to answer for their alleged negligence in court.