The U.S. Department of Justice on Sept. 4, 2025 filed suit against Southern California Edison (SCE), alleging negligence tied to the Jan. 2025 Eaton Fire in Altadena that killed 19 people and burned more than 14,000 acres, and seeking over $40 million to cover U.S. Forest Service suppression and rehabilitation costs.
Key Takeaways
- The DOJ sued SCE over the January 2025 Eaton Fire and the 2022 Fairview Fire.
- Eaton Fire: 19 dead, 14,000+ acres burned; about 8,000 acres in Angeles National Forest.
- Fairview Fire (2022): 2 dead, 28,000+ acres burned; about 14,000 acres in San Bernardino National Forest.
- DOJ seeks more than $40 million for Eaton-related federal costs and roughly $37 million for Fairview damages.
- DOJ alleges ignition from faulty SCE infrastructure; Cal Fire continues a separate investigation for Eaton.
- Local governments and private homeowners have also filed lawsuits against SCE over Eaton losses.
Verified Facts
The Eaton Fire began in January 2025 in Eaton Canyon near Altadena. State and federal agencies report 19 fatalities and widespread property and forest damage, including nearly 8,000 acres inside the Angeles National Forest. The fire grew rapidly under wind-driven conditions and became one of California’s most destructive incidents that year.
Separately, the Fairview Fire in 2022 killed two people and charred more than 28,000 acres, including roughly 14,000 acres inside the San Bernardino National Forest. State investigators concluded that the Fairview blaze originated when an SCE transmission line contacted a Frontier Communications messenger cable, producing an electrical arc that ignited vegetation.
The Justice Department’s complaints allege SCE owned, operated, and maintained the power infrastructure implicated in both fires and that governmental agencies incurred tens of millions in suppression and rehabilitation expenses. The DOJ is pursuing cost recovery under federal statutes for damage to national forest lands and related federal expenditures.
| Fire | Fatalities | Acres Burned | Federal Recovery Sought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eaton Fire (Jan. 2025) | 19 | 14,000+ (≈8,000 in Angeles NF) | More than $40,000,000 |
| Fairview Fire (2022) | 2 | 28,000+ (≈14,000 in San Bernardino NF) | About $37,000,000 |
Context & Impact
The DOJ action adds to a wave of litigation against SCE from Los Angeles County, the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre, and numerous homeowners and renters who lost property in the Eaton Fire. These cases run alongside ongoing administrative and criminal-investigative processes at state and federal levels.
If the DOJ prevails or SCE settles, recovered funds would reimburse federal agencies for suppression costs and restoration of national forest lands; additional settlements could address local government and private claims. The suits also increase regulatory and public pressure on utilities to accelerate safety upgrades and vegetation management around transmission corridors.
SCE has acknowledged data and external videos that merited investigation and stated it is exploring all possibilities, including whether its equipment was involved. The company announced a voluntary, expedited compensation program aimed at quickly assisting affected residents and businesses while investigations continue.
Official Statements
“These filings allege a troubling pattern of negligence resulting in death, destruction, and tens of millions of federal taxpayer dollars spent to clean up one utility company’s mistakes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli
Unconfirmed
- The definitive cause of the Eaton Fire remains under investigation by Cal Fire and other agencies; DOJ’s allegations are claims in its civil complaint.
- The extent to which specific SCE components directly ignited the Eaton Fire is not yet established in a court-adjudicated finding.
Bottom Line
The DOJ’s suits mark a significant federal step toward holding a major utility accountable for wildfire-related federal costs, while parallel civil actions and ongoing investigations will determine liability, settlement scope, and possible changes to utility practices. Community recovery efforts and expedited compensation programs are underway, but legal and investigative processes are likely to continue for months or years.