Latest news with #AngelesNationalForest
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SoCal Edison Agrees to Staggering $82.5 Million Settlement Connected to Bobcat Fire
Southern California Edison has agreed to a staggering $82.5 million settlement – the largest-ever wildfire cost recovery obtained in a civil suit – for its culpability in the 2020 Bobcat Fire that tore through 175 miles of the Angeles National Forest, the Justice Department announced Bobcat Fire ignited in September 2020 and leveled nearly 100,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest.'This record settlement against Southern California Edison provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands,' said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. 'My office will continue to aggressively pursue recovery for suppression costs and environmental damages from any entity that causes harm to the public's forests and other precious national resources.' The U.S. sued SoCal Edison in September 2023 on behalf of the Forest Service to recover costs incurred fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the extensive damages that it caused to the Angeles National Forest. The government says the Bobcat Fire ignited when trees that were not properly maintained by SCE, when its tree maintenance contractor came into contact with power lines, it started a massive wildfire that destroyed public lands and led to years-long closures of "more than 100 miles of trails and numerous campgrounds," the government says. "It also had a detrimental impact on habitats and wildlife, including to the federally endangered wildlife-mountain yellow-legged frog, federally threatened fish and birds, and irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources."SCE agreed to pay the $82.5 million settlement within 60 days of the effective date of the settlement agreement, which was May 14, without admitting wrongdoing or fault.'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. 'These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats, and strengthen our forests' resilience to future wildfires.'
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
SoCal Edison agrees to pay $82.5 million for Bobcat Fire
Southern California Edison has agreed to pay the United States $82.5 million to recover costs and damages associated with the 114,000-acre Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest, the Justice Department announced on Friday. The United States filed a lawsuit in 2023 on behalf of the Forest Service against SCE and Utility Tree Service, claiming the utility did not properly maintain trees that came into contact with power lines, causing the 2020 wildfire to ignite. "This record settlement against Southern California Edison provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands," United States Attorney Bill Essayli said. The wildfire damaged public lands and closed more than 100 miles of trails and numerous campgrounds for years. It also detrimentally impacted habitats and wildlife, including the federally endangered mountain yellow-legged frog and federally threatened fish and birds, according to the Justice Department. SoCal Edison agreed to pay $82.5 million within 60 days of the settlement agreement, which was May 14, without admitting wrongdoing or fault. "We are grateful to receive these settlement funds, which mark an important step toward recovery and restoration," said Angeles National Forest Deputy Forest Supervisor Tony Martinez. "These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats, and strengthen our forests' resilience to future wildfires." The blaze also destroyed 87 homes, 83 structures and damaged 28 homes. The Nature Center at the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area was also destroyed. CBS News Los Angeles reached out to Southern California Edison for comment and is waiting to hear back.
