Los Angeles— A California utility has agreed to pay the federal government $82.5 million for a massive 2020 wildfire that raged across mountains northeast of Los Angeles and into the Mojave Desert, officials announced Friday.
On Thursday, the US Justice Department announced that Southern California Edison had made the payment. According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, the settlement delivers “meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the… fire and the widespread damage to public lands.”
According to authorities, Edison agreed to pay the settlement within 60 days of its effective date, May 14, without admitting any wrongdoing or blame.
Diane Castro, a utility spokesman, stated, “Our hearts go out to those affected by the Bobcat Fire.” We are glad to have remedied this issue, and we will continue to enhance wildfire mitigation methods.”
The settlement followed a 2023 lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors on behalf of the United States Forest Service against Edison and Utility Tree Service to recover costs associated with fighting the so-called Bobcat Fire and the enormous damage it caused to the Angeles National Forest.
The authorities said that the fire started when trees that were not properly maintained by the utility or its tree maintenance contractor came into touch with electricity cables. The fire blocked campgrounds and more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) of trails for years, harming habitat for the nationally endangered mountain yellow-legged frog, as well as federally threatened fish and birds, according to the government.
“These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats, and strengthen our forests’ resilience to future wildfires,” said Tony Martinez, Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Angeles National Forest.
The fire scorched approximately 178 square miles (461 square kilometers).
Last year, the company agreed to pay $80 million to settle claims on behalf of the US Forest Service stemming from a catastrophic wildfire that burned over a thousand homes and other structures in 2017.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the Eaton Fire, which destroyed at least 7,000 homes and other structures and devastated entire communities earlier this year. According to lawsuits filed against SCE, the utility’s equipment caused the fire.
