WOOLSEY FIRE

Start date: November 9, 2018

Los Angeles and Ventura Counties: 96,949 acres burned

Damage: 1,643 structures destroyed, 3 deaths

Cost: $6 Billion

Cause: Southern California Edison electrical equipment

There are at least three things you need to know about the Woolsey Fire. First, while there has been no definitive determination as to the cause of the Woolsey Fire, the Ventura County Fire Department has issued a report concluding that SCE’s electrical equipment caused that fire, and SCE now concedes that it has concluded that absent additional evidence, SCE believes it is likely that its equipment was associated with the ignition of the Woolsey Fire.

Second, if, as now appears to be the case, SCE electrical equipment caused the Woolsey Fire, SCE is strictly liable for the property damage resulting from that fire regardless of whether SCE was negligent in maintaining that equipment.

Third, unlike PG&E, SCE has not filed a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy petition. This means that, unlike PG&E, SCE faces jury trials for property damage claims, SCE claimants have a longer period in which to file claims than many claimants had in which to make fire claims against PG&E, and SCE’s assets are likely to be sufficient to satisfy all wildfire claims against it, whereas that may not be the case regarding fire claimants whose claims are against PG&E rather than SCE.