Dozen fire-victim families blame SoCal Edison, DWP for home losses in millions; lawsuit filed

Southern California Edison and the Department of Water and Power were sued Friday by about a dozen families whose homes were damaged during the Round Fire near Bishop earlier this year.

The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges negligence and inverse condemnation. The families are seeking unspecified damages, but the lawsuit alleges they collectively suffered millions of dollars in damages to their properties.

Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the City Attorney’s Office, declined to comment. A representative for Rosemead-based SCE could not be immediately reached.

The suit states that the Round Fire began Feb. 6 about 13 miles northwest of Bishop when a tree on DWP-owned property fell onto SCE power lines. The tree was supposed to be maintained by tree trimming companies under contract with SCE “and/or” the DWP, the suit states.

The fire burned about 8,000 acres and destroyed some 40 homes, according to the lawsuit.

— City News Service