News
New Lawsuit Filed Against SCE Over Fairview Fire In Hemet
(CNS) – Another group of families is suing Southern California Edison Co., alleging the utility’s negligence is linked to the outbreak of the destructive Fairview Fire last month in Riverside County.
The blaze broke out on Sept. 5, killing two and forcing the evacuations of thousands in Hemet.
“Edison negligently, recklessly and willfully failed to maintain an appropriate clearance area between the electrical equipment in its utility infrastructure and surrounding vegetation,” according to the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit brought Friday, alleging negligence, nuisance and trespass, and seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Responding to the lawsuit, SCE spokesman Reggie Kumar said: “Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the people who lost their lives and were injured during the Fairview Fire and we have been working with Cal Fire throughout their review of the fire.
“It is important to note that the cause of this fire has not yet been determined and we will continue to support Cal Fire in their review,” Kumar continued. “We continue to make progress on our wildfire mitigation work through grid hardening, situational awareness and enhanced operational practices.”
The utility previously submitted a letter on Oct. 3 to the Public Utilities Commission indicating in part that while the investigation was ongoing, Cal Fire investigators identified two areas of interest, one of which involved the location near a pole line associated with overhead utility facilities owned by SCE and Frontier Communications.
The plaintiffs in the new complaint are homeowners, renters, business owners and other individuals whose properties and lives were, “literally and figuratively, destroyed by the Fairview Fire,” according to the suit, which includes two color photographs from the blaze.
Rather than an “act of God or other force majeure,” the fire was started by sparks from high-voltage transmission lines, distribution lines and other SCE electrical equipment that ignited surrounding vegetation, the suit states.
In addition to property damage, the plaintiffs suffered losses of cherished possessions and their resulting personal expenses have included medical bills and lost wages, the suit states. They also suffered emotional distress and their harms are ongoing, according to the suit.
A similar lawsuit was filed against SCE by another group of Fairview Fire victims on Sept. 21.
Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.
By: Ceci Partridge
October 18, 2022
Latest Instagram Posts
New findings reveal what led to the death of Jackie, the beloved bald eagle from Big Bear Valley. A necropsy confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) as the primary cause of her decline. The infection caused a severe stomach ulcer, internal bleeding, anemia and a secondary bacterial infection. Testing also detected rat poison in Jackie’s liver, but officials say it was not identified as the primary cause of her death. Tests were negative for West Nile virus, and lead levels were within acceptable limits. Jackie’s mate, Shadow, remains in Big Bear Valley. Officials say there is no evidence that Shadow or the eaglets are sick. Jackie’s story captured hearts across the country and brought attention to bald eagle conservation. #JackieTheEagle #BigBear #BaldEagles #WildlifeConservation #BirdFlu #NBCPalmSprings
As discussion around flock cameras continues to spark greater conversations about surveillance and security, the Palm Springs Police Department is expected to provide an update on their flock camera program at tonight’s city council meeting. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we bring the latest details on this discussion #flockcameras #palmsprings #citycouncil #coachellavalley #760
A potent cold front will finally bring widespread fall-like temperatures to much of the central and eastern US.
Republican Rep. Mike Collins and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff clashed over Jeffrey Epstein during a debate in Georgia. Collins challenged Ossoff over campaign donations from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who has acknowledged meeting Jeffrey Epstein, while Ossoff countered accusing Collins of voting against releasing Epstein-related records, and helping to "cover up" evidence.
A man and his nephew captured the moment a huge whale slammed into the side of their boat while they were fishing off the coast of Long Island, New York.
Winnie the Pooh turns 100. The popular bear's legacy lives on not only in books but as toys and collectibles too.
🎶 60 ARRESTS, BUT NO $48K FINE? Head Trip Music Festival is over, but the aftermath is making headlines. Indio police made 60 arrests during the two-day festival, nearly half for drug possession. Meanwhile, the city is waiving a potential $48,000 fine after Swedish House Mafia played past the midnight curfew — citing weather disruptions that forced Saturday’s festival to shut down early. #Indio #HeadTripFestival #SwedishHouseMafia #CoachellaValley #BreakingNews
🙏 Prayers pouring in from around the world for Pope Leo XIV. The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering after surgery revealed lung cancer. Doctors say the growth was detected at an early stage — highlighting why early detection can make all the difference. ❤️ #PopeLeoXIV #LungCancer #EarlyDetection #YourHealthToday
🚨 Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is speaking out after California lawmakers decided to destroy ballots from the 2025 special election, ending his investigation into possible ballot miscount. What do you think the decision means for election transparency, accountability, and the ongoing questions surrounding election integrity? Let us know in the comments. #ChadBianco #RiversideCounty #CaliforniaPolitics #electionnews
Should Palm Springs residents elect their mayor directly? The city is asking residents to weigh in on whether to change its current system, where the mayor rotates annually among the five City Council members. Community meetings are scheduled for Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at ALO Palm Canyon and Monday at Palm Springs High School. Residents can also complete an online survey in English or Spanish. Share your input before next Monday at EngagePalmSprings.com. #PalmSprings #PalmSpringsNews #CoachellaValley #LocalGovernment #CityCouncil CommunityInput NBCPalmSprings