A woman in Southern California, who lost her home in the recent wildfires, has accused a local utility company of igniting the blaze that destroyed her longtime residence, as stated in a lawsuit submitted on Monday.

Evangeline Iglesias claims that Southern California Edison neglected to turn off its power equipment despite severe weather alerts, resulting in the Eaton wildfire that obliterated her house in Altadena, according to her legal filing in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The Eaton Fire, located east of downtown Los Angeles, is one of three active wildfires currently affecting the region, as reported by CalFire. This fire has scorched over 14,000 acres and has damaged nearly 2,000 structures. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.

Officials are still trying to determine what ignited the wildfires that have resulted in at least 24 fatalities, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and ravaged large areas of well-known landscapes and communities. Factors such as dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity have intensified the fires once they started.

Residents of Southern California who were compelled to evacuate point fingers at politicians and other entities. Fire officials have stated they are looking into potential connections between the utility company and the smaller Hurst Fire, which is also still burning. Iglesias’ lawsuit is among the initial legal actions aimed at holding utility companies, particularly Southern California Edison, accountable.

The lawsuit includes multiple eyewitness statements and photographs that suggest a fire was present at the base of one of the utility’s transmission towers.

“They were aware, just like everyone else, of the critical weather warnings, dry conditions, and strong winds. They had resources they could have utilized to reduce the wildfire risk,” explained Ali Moghaddas, Iglesias’ attorney from the Edelson law firm. “They had options during this situation, and they clearly made the wrong decision.”

A representative for Southern California Edison stated that the company could not comment specifically on the lawsuit since it had not yet been officially served. However, he emphasized that the utility is aware of the lawsuit and strongly defends its safety measures.

“Our thoughts are with our communities during this tragic time caused by the fires in Southern California, and we are dedicated to offering support during this challenging period,” remarked spokesperson Jeff Monford in a statement to YSL News.

According to Monford, the company delivers electricity to approximately 5 million customers, which is about 10% of the local population. A team of meteorologists and fire experts monitors fire risks and determines when to deactivate the utility’s equipment to avert disasters.

The utility’s website features a map detailing power outage information. As of 6:30 p.m. local time, nearly 60,000 customers were without electricity due to wildfire risks, and shutoffs for an additional 500,000 customers were being considered.

The outage map also provides information on resources such as shelter and preparation tips for potential outages.

What initiated the fire?

Iglesias alleges that the blaze that engulfed her house began at the base of a utility tower, which remained operational despite the dangerous conditions.

Included in the lawsuit is a photo showing flames surrounding the base of the tower at 6:21 p.m., just six minutes after the wildfire started. Witness accounts are also documented in the lawsuit, claiming that the fire ignited beneath the power lines.

Moreover, an electric grid monitoring service documented over 300 incidents of electrical disturbances—faults caused by tree branches contacting live wires or wires touching one another—in the hours preceding the outbreak of the fire.

These disturbances indicate that electricity continued to flow through the lines, despite numerous alerts, including a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning predicting winds of up to 100 mph coupled with extremely dry conditions.

Monford reiterated that fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Others attribute the Eaton fire to Edison

Iglesias is not the only one blaming the utility for the destruction of her home.

Jeremy Gursey, another resident from the Los Angeles area who lost his house in the Eaton fire, has also filed a lawsuit against the utility, according to court documents from the Los Angeles Superior Court.

This lawsuit alleges that the company failed to deactivate its power lines in light of the hazardous conditions. It also features photographs taken shortly after the 6:15 fire ignition, showing flames climbing up a utility tower and risking the surrounding area.

In a separate case, Michael Kreiner is attributing the fire that ruined his rental property to the utility’s negligence. The law firm McNicholas & McNicholas has not yet responded to requests for a copy of the court-stamped lawsuit.

Shareholders react to Edison

The stock of Edison International, the parent company of the utility, has experienced a significant decline following the onset of the fires.

On Monday, shares dropped nearly 12% to $57.24, marking a decline of about 27% since the wildfires began last week.

During a television interview on Monday morning, the company’s CEO mentioned that they are continuing to investigate the fires and have not yet identified any electrical issues with their equipment around the time the Eaton Fire started.

“It’s not unusual to see such issues arising if equipment sparks,” Edison International CEO Pedro Pizarro commented during a CNBC interview when asked about the investigation into the Eaton Fire.

“There may be other factors at play here. Unfortunately, we have not been able to access the lines yet,” he noted.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen; Reuters.