Christmas decorations at Upper Hastings (Photo – Daniel Peters)
The City of Pasadena has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) seeking compensation for extensive damage to municipal property and infrastructure caused by the destructive Eaton Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025. Fueled by severe wind conditions, the fire wreaked havoc across the city, damaging essential public facilities and infrastructure, and leaving a significant impact on the community.
By News Desk
The lawsuit comes after the Eaton Fire, which burned more than 14,000 acres and destroyed approximately 9,400 structures, causing irreparable damage to over 1,000 additional buildings. Tragically, the fire claimed 17 lives and disrupted the lives of thousands of Pasadena residents. Among the most affected were critical municipal assets, including police facilities, water infrastructure, and public service buildings.
“The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena’s operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild,” said Lisa Derderian, Public Information Officer for the City of Pasadena. “While our restoration efforts continue, we have a responsibility to pursue appropriate compensation for the costs of rebuilding the public infrastructure our community relies upon.”
Among the damages detailed in the lawsuit are substantial losses to the Pasadena Police Department’s Advanced Officer Training Facility, the Pasadena Municipal Assistance, Solutions, and Hiring (MASH) building and fleet, and critical water management infrastructure, including storage tanks.
The city’s legal filing includes photographic evidence showing the fire’s origin and references regulatory filings from Southern California Edison acknowledging electrical system anomalies at the time and location where the fire began. According to the lawsuit, Edison reported to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that a “fault was detected” on its transmission circuit at the same time and place as the fire’s ignition. Additionally, SCE sent a letter to the CPUC on February 6, confirming signs of potential arcing and damage to its equipment, including a transmission tower’s grounding system.
The complaint also highlights that weather forecasts leading up to the fire warned of extreme fire danger, with the National Weather Service issuing increasingly urgent advisories, culminating in a Red Flag Warning on the morning of January 7, when high winds reached dangerous levels.
In its filing, Pasadena has brought claims for inverse condemnation, negligence, trespass, nuisance, premises liability, and violations of Public Utilities and Health & Safety Codes. These claims seek to address both the immediate damage caused by the fire and the substantial costs associated with post-fire recovery efforts, including emergency response, environmental hazard management, and infrastructure restoration.
The lawsuits against Southern California Edison are not limited to Pasadena. Los Angeles County and the City of Sierra Madre have also filed similar legal actions against the utility company, seeking compensation for damages sustained in their own jurisdictions as a result of the Eaton Fire.
“Our focus remains on the full restoration of services to Pasadena residents and businesses,” Derderian said. “By working collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions, we can more effectively address the devastating impacts this fire has had on our communities while ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”
The City of Pasadena is represented by City Attorney Michele Beal Bagneris, Chief Assistant City Attorney Arnold Lee, and Deputy City Attorney Caroline Monroy, along with outside counsel from the law firms Baron & Budd P.C. and Diab Chambers LLP. This legal team is also supporting Los Angeles County and Sierra Madre in related litigation against Southern California Edison.
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