Edison agrees to pay $82.5 million to resolve lawsuit stemming from Bobcat Fire, DOJ says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Southern California Edison has agreed to pay $82.5 million to resolve claims on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service seeking to recoup costs incurred fighting the 2020 Bobcat Fire, federal prosecutors said Friday.

"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," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. "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 Bobcat Fire erupted in September 2020 in the San Gabriel Mountains and burned approximately 175 square miles, of which nearly 100,000 acres were in the Angeles National Forest.

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in September 2023 on behalf of the Forest Service against Edison and Utility Tree Service to recover costs for the extensive damages that it caused.

Prosecutors alleged that the wildfire began when trees that were not properly maintained by Edison and its tree maintenance contractor came into contact with power lines, causing the blaze to ignite.

SoCal Edison agreed to pay the settlement without admitting wrongdoing or fault. The utility did not immediately provide a statement regarding the settlement.

The wildfire started on Sept. 6, 2020, and resulted in more than three times the acreage damage caused by the Edison and Palisades wildfires together.

The fire caused years of closure of more than 100 miles of trails and numerous campgrounds. 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, according to the DOJ.

The settlement is considered the largest-ever wildfire cost recovery by the U.S. in the Central District.

According to the complaint, the Forest Service sustained fire suppression costs in excess of $56 million, and it incurred property and natural resource damages of more than $65 million.

"Forest Service investigators determined that the Bobcat Fire ignited due to a tree in contact with power lines (conductors) owned and operated by SCE and maintained by SCE and UTS," the lawsuit states. "The contact resulted in ignition of vegetation on a branch, which fell to the ground and spread."

The wildfire destroyed 171 structures and 178 vehicles, damaged 47 structures, and resulted in the widespread evacuation of residences. It took weeks to put the fire out.

In 2021, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services announced the approval of more than $50,000 in reimbursements to help cover damages to Arcadia and Monrovia caused by the fire.

The funding helped cover the costs of engineering and constructing a parking lot at the entrance of Canyon Park in Monrovia, and the costs of labor and equipment to clear vegetative debris from Wilderness Park in Arcadia, according to a Cal OES statement.

SoCal Edison agreed to pay the $82.5 million settlement by July 14.

"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."

City News Service contributed to this report.