The Department of Justice is looking for damages for probably the most greatest wildfires that is ever burned in Los Angeles County.
In a grievance filed on Friday, federal prosecutors allege the Bobcat Fire, which burned over 114,500 acres in 2020, used to be brought about by way of the negligence of utility company Southern California Edison and its tree repairs contractor, Utility Tree Service.
In this Sept. 17, 2020, record picture, the Bobcat Fire burns throughout the Angeles National Forest in Paradise Springs, Calif.
Kyle Grillot/AFP by the use of Getty Images, FILE
The lawsuit alleges the 2 firms failed to correctly take care of bushes that got here into touch with powerlines.
Forest Service investigators made up our minds the Bobcat Fire ignited on Sept. 6, 2020, inside the Angeles National Forest when a tree got here in touch with an influence line owned by way of Southern California Edison and maintained by way of each the utility company and Utility Tree Service, in keeping with the grievance.
The lawsuit alleges the 2 firms knew of the risk posed by way of the tree however “failed to take any action.”
A Southern California Edison spokesperson stated the company is reviewing the DOJ’s prison motion “and it would not be appropriate to discuss outside of the court process.”
“Our thoughts remain with the people who were affected by the Bobcat Fire, who lost homes, vehicles and were evacuated,” the spokesperson, Gabriela Ornelas, instructed ABC News.
ABC News has reached out to Utility Tree Service for remark.
In this Sept. 18, 2020, record picture, a house burns all over the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills, Calif.
Kyle Grillot/AFP by the use of Getty Images, FILE
The lawsuit claims the U.S. Forest Service spent greater than $56 million to place out the Bobcat Fire and that the blaze incurred greater than $65 million in assets and herbal useful resource damages. More than 99,000 acres inside the Angeles National Forest burned, whilst 171 structures and 178 cars have been destroyed, amongst different damages, in keeping with the lawsuit.
“The public has been prevented from recreating on the more than 100 miles of popular system trails and in numerous campgrounds within the burn area in the nearly three years following the fire,” the grievance states. “The fire effects have been, and will be, detrimental to habitats and wildlife, including the federally endangered wildlife-mountain yellowlegged frog and other federally threatened fish and birds. The fire also damaged and destroyed irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources.”
In July, Southern California Edison, Utility Tree Service and Frontier Communications Holdings paid the U.S. $22 million to get to the bottom of claims related to a 2016 wildfire within the Los Padres National Forest, the Justice Department said.
That fireplace ignited when a tree fell onto powerlines and verbal exchange traces owned, respectively, by way of Southern California Edison and Frontier, the DOJ stated.
All 3 firms agreed to pay the agreement with out admitting wrongdoing or fault.
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