Federal authorities have concluded that Southern California Edison (SCE) was responsible for the devastating 2017 Creek fire that destroyed 70 homes, contradicting the utility's longstanding denials of involvement.
The determination comes after a U.S. Forest Service investigator gained access to Edison's data in 2022, leading to a $40 million federal lawsuit against the utility giant. The government claims Edison not only caused the fire but also withheld critical evidence that could have identified the fire's origin earlier.
According to court documents, Edison failed to provide relevant fault data when initially requested in 2020. The data, which plaintiffs say Edison had possessed since 2018, showed "massive, elevated amperage events" on the Lopez Circuit precisely when the Creek Fire ignited.
"[Edison] made a deliberate decision at the earliest stages of its investigation to suppress evidence and pin the blame on LADWP," plaintiffs stated in their lawsuit.
The initial investigation had blamed Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for the blaze. However, this conclusion was complicated by LADWP's records showing the fire started six minutes before any faults occurred on their power lines.
Edison continues to deny responsibility. "We do not believe that SCE equipment was involved in the ignition of the Creek fire," said Kathleen Dunleavy, an Edison spokeswoman. The company declined to comment on allegations about withholding data.
The case highlights investigators' reliance on utility companies for crucial data during fire investigations. The current situation echoes a 1997 incident when Cal Fire raided Edison's offices while investigating the utility's role in a Calabasas fire.
The Creek fire burned more than 15,000 acres in the San Fernando Valley and destroyed over 100 structures. The case is scheduled for trial this year as Edison faces increased scrutiny over its potential role in recent California wildfires.