Victims of Woolsey Fire File First Lawsuit Against SCE

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2018) — Nearly 20 people impacted by the destructive Woolsey Fire are the first to sue Southern California Edison for negligence which resulted in worsening conditions that intensified the wildfires.

According to the class action complaint, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the plaintiffs contend SCE failed to shut off power to prevent the fire and shut off electricity to water needed to protect homes and residences. On November 12, 2018 as the fire raged, SCE provided a preliminary report to the California Public Utility Commission stating that SCE’s electric substation had experienced a disturbance two minutes before the fire was first reported. The fire started at the same SCE facility where the substation is located.

“Southern California Edison failed to take proper precautions to protect people and property even though the utility had prior warning of the Red Flag conditions in the area,” said lead plaintiff attorney R. Rex Parris with Parris Law Firm. “SCE’s decision to eventually turn off the power only exacerbated the problem for residents and firefighters,” added Parris.

The lawsuit claims that once the electricity was off, residents and firefighters couldn’t access enough water with the right pressure to fight the fire, increasing risk to the safety of homeowners sheltering in place and firefighters.

The plaintiffs are property owners, renters, business owners and/or individuals that suffered damages by the dangerous Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles County, California and Ventura County. Because the named plaintiffs filed the case as a class action, they also seek to represent a class of every person and business harmed by Edison’s negligence.

The Woolsey Fire ignited on November 8, 2018 and since then, has burned more than 96,000 acres of land, destroyed more than 400 structures and caused more than 260,000 people to evacuate their homes. The fire also spread to the site of a nuclear reactor meltdown in the Santa Susana Complex which will likely spread radiological and chemical contamination, causing extensive damage and potential health issues.

Link to complaint: https://www.parrislawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Woolsey-Fire-Complaint_Conformed.pdf

The #WoolseyFire in Southern California has left a scar on the landscape so large that it is easily visible from space. Learn how our @NASAEarth satellite data helps recovery efforts:https://t.co/ESlZhrXRiT pic.twitter.com/kD90Ste8QS

— NASA (@NASA) November 20, 2018

Day 14 of the #WoolseyFire the fire is at 98% Together we can continue moving forward, #LASD is #Thankful & #Grateful for all first responders, organizations and community members who are involved #THANKYOU pic.twitter.com/wmvhBqGLYJ

— LA County Sheriff’s (@LASDHQ) November 21, 2018

#WoolseyFire burned all the way up to PCH and in some areas jumped to the beach side. Please be careful if you are returning to #malibu area. pic.twitter.com/24giaINeYc

— LA County Sheriff’s (@LASDHQ) November 21, 2018