Southern California Edison to pay record $82.5 million settlement in Bobcat Fire lawsuit
Southern California Edison will pay the United States an $82.5 million settlement, resolving a lawsuit pertaining to the Bobcat Fire that burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Los Angeles County nearly five years ago.
It's the largest wildfire cost recovery settlement by the U.S. in the Central District of California, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California news release on May 23.
"We are grateful to receive these settlement funds, which mark an important step toward recovery and restoration,' said Deputy Forest Supervisor Tony Martinez of the Angeles National Forest in a statement. 'These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats, and strengthen our forests' resilience to future wildfires.'
Southern California Edison agreed to pay the $82.5 million within 60 days of May 14 — the effective date of the settlement agreement — without admitting wrongdoing or fault, according to the news release.
In 2023, the U.S. filed a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service against Southern California Edison and its tree maintenance contractor, Utility Tree Service, to recover costs from fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the 'extensive damages' it caused to the Angeles National Forest.
The Forest Service, which manages the Angeles National Forest, 'sustained fire suppression costs in excess of $56 million' as well as property and natural resource damages of over $65 million, according to a news release from 2023.
The lawsuit alleged that the wildfire was caused by Southern California Edison and its tree maintenance contractor's failure to properly maintain trees that came into contact with power lines, according to the news release.
The Bobcat Fire ignited on Sept. 6, 2020 in the Angeles National Forest, burning over 115,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures, according to an incident report from October of that year.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Southern California Edison to pay $82.5 million in Bobcat Fire lawsuit
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