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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 08-SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
NO. 240
VOL. 14,
US sues SoCal Edison for damages alleged in Eaton, Fairview fires By City News Service
F
ederal prosecutors in Los Angeles Thursday sued Southern California Edison over its alleged role in the devastating Eaton and Fairview fires, which burned tens of thousands of acres of National Forest lands, killed a total of 21 people, and destroyed thousands of buildings. Both fires damaged federal government-owned land and property. The lawsuits seek to recover tens of millions of dollars in costs due to fire suppression and rehabilitation of national forest property. “The lawsuits filed today allege a troubling pattern of negligence resulting in death, destruction, and tens of millions of federal taxpayer dollars spent to clean up one utility company’s mistakes,” Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “We hope that today’s filings are the first step in causing the beginnings of a culture change at Southern California Edison, one that will make it a responsible, conscientious company that helps — not harms — our community.
Angeles National Forest firefighters battle flames from the Eaton Fire that spread to a home. | Photo courtesy of Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA/Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Hardworking Californians should not pick up the tab for Edison’s negligence.” The filings both allege faulty Socal Edison equip-
ment ignited the wildfires. SoCal Edison spokesman Jeff Monford said in a statement provided to City News Service that the utility would
respond to the specific allegations in court. “Our thoughts are with the community affected by the Fairview Fire,” Monford said.
“We are reviewing the lawsuit and will respond through
the appropriate channels. We continue our work to reduce the likelihood of our equipment starting a wildfire. SCE is committed to wildfire mitigation through grid hardening, situational awareness and enhanced operational practices. “The Eaton Fire was heartbreaking for so many of us who live and work in the Los Angeles area. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, we will review this lawsuit and respond through the appropriate legal channels.” As in other lawsuits stemming from the Eaton wildfire, federal prosecutors allege SoCal Edison’s equipment caused the Jan. 7 blaze, which destroyed more than 9,400 homes and other structures in Altadena and killed 19 people, making it one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. Prosecutors said the U.S. Forest Service incurred millions of dollars in costs to suppress the Eaton blaze. The
See Fire lawsuit Page 27
Trump administration appeals ruling on troop deployment to LA By City News Service
O
ne day after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles during immigration enforcement and protests was illegal, the administration filed a notice of appeal. Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco issued the ruling Tuesday, finding that the
deployment was in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars most uses of U.S. troops on U.S. soil. The judge placed the ruling on hold until noon on Sept. 12 to give the Trump administration time to appeal. The notice to appeal was filed Wednesday with the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals. Breyer’s ruling was based on an 1878 law that prevents
federal troops from being used for regular law enforcement activities. The Trump administration has argued that the troops were there to protect federal officers and property and they were not performing local policing duties. “Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commanderin-Chief to protect American
cities from violence and destruction,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a message to City News Service on Tuesday. “President Trump saved Los Angeles, which was overrun by deranged leftist lunatics sowing mass chaos until he stepped in. While far-left courts try to stop President Trump from carrying out his mandate to Make America
Safe Again, the President is committed to protecting law-abiding citizens, and this will not be the final say on the issue.” The ruling follows a lawsuit by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and a threeday trial in San Francisco federal court. See Troop deployment Page 28
Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in June. The injunction applies only to the military in California, not nationally. Trump, who recently deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C., said he may send