A Southern California county has filed lawsuits alleging a major electric utility's negligence caused two wildfires that collectively burned thousands of acres and prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. Orange County, which is home to more than 3 million people between Los Angeles and San Diego, filed a pair of lawsuits against Southern California Edison alleging that the company's equipment played a role in wildfires in 2020 and 2022.
The county also named T-Mobile in the suit over the Silverado Fire, which prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and caused school closures. Gabriela Ornelas, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, declined to comment on the lawsuits. She said the company cooperated with Orange County fire officials in their investigations.