Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is currently helping victims of the Eaton Fire recover compensation for their losses. If you have incurred any of the following losses in the Eaton Fire, call us today for a free consultation so we can help you recover compensation:
- Costs to repair or replace your property or home
- Evacuation-related costs
- Rental home loss
- Emotional distress
- Loss of wages
- Lost personal property or belongings
- Smoke inhalation
- Injury
- Wrongful death
- Medical bills
- Pool damage
- Funeral or burial costs
- Land value depreciation
- Damaged underwood, trees or timber
- Lost crops
- Smoke-related destruction
- Lost or hurt livestock or pets
- Business interruption
- Business losses
The Eaton Fire started at 6:18 PM PST on January 7, 2025 in Eaton Canyon, CA. As of January 27, 2025, it has burned 14,021 acres of land, destroyed 9,418 structures, damaged 1,073 structures, is threatening 55 structures, has killed 17 civilians, and is 95 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE. Over 100,000 people have been evacuated, according to Wikipedia.
We have filed one of the first Eaton Fire lawsuits on behalf of a homeowner that lost his home. We are actively filing more lawsuits for damages, losses and injuries against Southern California Edison. Our legal teams possess vast experience helping victims of California wildfires. We have recovered in excess of $1 billion for California wildfire victims. We have successfully obtained recoveries for victims of multiple wildfires, such as the Dixie, Camp, Fairview, Fly, Zogg, McKinney, Mill, Thomas, Woolsey and Mosquito fires. The vast experience we have will let us recover the most money possible on your behalf.
Call us today for a free consultation, fill out this page’s free case evaluation form or text us from this page if you or a loved one incurred losses because of the Eaton Fire. We won’t charge you any fee to handle your Eaton Fire case until and unless we recover compensation for you – our only fee will be a percentage of any compensation recovered. Call us today.
Table of Contents
- What Caused the Eaton Canyon Fire?
- Tips to Recover From the Eaton Fire
- Was Your Eaton Fire Insurance Claim Denied in Bad Faith?
- Resources
- Eaton Fire Updates
- Contact an Eaton Canyon Wildfire Attorney Today
What Caused the Eaton Canyon Fire?
The official cause of the Eaton Fire is not yet known and is still under investigation.
However, residents reported to 911 that an electrical tower caught fire in the area of the fire. In addition, Southern California Edison has filed an incident report relating to the fire.
A lawsuit was filed on January 13, 2025 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that Southern California Edison is responsible for the fire. The lawsuit alleges that the fire is the result of SCE failing to shut the power off despite dangerous fire weather, failing to properly maintain its equipment and failing to properly maintain the vegetation surrounding its equipment. The complaint contains multiple photographs of what appears to be the start of a wildfire directly underneath transmission towers in Eaton Canyon.
On January 26, 2025, the New York Times published an article containing additional information regarding the possible source of the Eaton Fire. The article contains security camera footage of flashes of light near Eaton Canyon electrical towers, with flames appearing moments later. The footage labels the flashes of light as “signs of arcing.” The article notes that the footage supports what was seen by residents. One resident, according to the article, saw a “flash of light” which was followed by fire at the base of an electrical tower. The article also notes that Whisker Labs, a company who has sensors which detect abnormal electrical activity on wires, detected faults in the area around 6 PM on January 7, 2025. Inciweb lists 6:18 PM as the official origin of the fire.
A strong Santa Ana winds event contributed to the size and rapid spread of the fire.
Possible causes of the Eaton Fire include:
Downed Power Lines
One common cause of California wildfires is poorly maintained power lines being downed by high winds. Our legal teams have recovered compensation for victims of countless fires started by downed power lines, including the Dixie Fire and Camp Fire. Inverse condemnation laws allow us to recover compensation for victims of wildfires started by utility companies’ equipment.
Arson
It is unfortunate that some people start wildfires intentionally. Our legal teams represent those who have suffered losses due to fires started intentionally, helping them recover compensation and advocating for their rights.
Negligence
Human negligence can cause wildfires to start and can aid in their spread. Our legal teams have assisted thousands of people who have suffered losses due to fires started by human negligence. Many wildfires would not occur if not for a lack of adequate precautions or safety measures.
Tips to Recover From the Eaton Fire
- Evacuate safely
- See a healthcare professional for any injuries
- Stay out of fire-damaged homes until authorities say it’s safe
- Contact your insurance
- Let family and friends know that you are safe
- Make sure people or animals with serious injuries or burns are transported to medical or veterinary help right away
- Discard food exposed to soot, smoke or heat
If your insurance company is unreasonably delaying your Eaton Fire claim or refusing to pay you money you’re contractually eligible for, we’ve got you covered and can help you get the compensation you need. Call us today for a free consultation.
Was Your Eaton Fire Insurance Claim Denied in Bad Faith?
We can help you recover financial compensation from an insurance company who is handling your Eaton Fire claim in bad faith.
Examples of bad faith by insurance companies include:
- Refusing to pay benefits out regarding valid claims
- Unreasonably limiting payments or delaying them
- Unreasonably refusing the settlement of claims
- Unreasonably delaying your claim
- Not conducting a prompt, fair or full investigation of your claim
- Refusing to explain why they denied your claim
- Refusing to communicate about your claim or the status of your claim
- Misrepresenting facts regarding your insurance coverage
- Requesting excessive documentation and/or paperwork
- Abuse or intimidation
Your policy’s language must get examined in order to determine if your insurance company is acting in bad faith. Insurance policies can be very complex. Our lawyers have extensive experience in insurance and contract law. We can examine your policy for you and determine whether you have a valid bad faith claim. Call us today for a free consultation or click here for more information if your insurance company is acting in bad faith.
Resources
- Fire Recovery Information and Resources
- FEMA Assistance
- Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance
- Los Angeles County Incident Response
- Los Angeles County Emergency Notifications – Signup
Eaton Fire Updates
February 19, 2025 Update
On February 18, a judge maintained a restraining order, which is temporary, against SCE for an additional week - this orders SCE to preserve physical evidence, data and documents which relate to the Eaton Fire while lawyers who are representing homeowners and the utility work towards agreeing upon an evidence order which is long-term.
The judge declined to address the plaintiffs' lawyers' request for sanctions against the utility, saying a separate filing would cover that and that it is more important for parties to agree upon the evidence preservation's scope.
Clear guardrails were put in place regarding key power infrastructure preservation, as well as a commitment from SCE, which is court-enforceable, to show any and all data regarding why the fire appears to have been started by a de-energized line. The judge is clearly committed to not letting SCE destroy any evidence.
Lawyers asked for sanctions against the utility last week after accusing the utility of lying after learning SCE re-energized transmission lines on the 19th of January without providing prior notice to plaintiffs' lawyers. This, lawyers argued, possibly damaged or altered physical evidence prior to lawyers being able to have their experts test the lines which were de-energized.
An SCE spokeswoman denied this claim, saying the utility sent the lawyers a letter on January 17th, notifying them.
February 11, 2025 Update
The Los Angeles Times has reported that while Edison may face a significant hit economically from the Eaton Fire, the utility will probably avoid a "fatal blow." Some estimates have put insured damages relating to the fire at $10 billion. The final amount may be higher, though, according to experts.
California lawmakers, in 2019, created an emergency fund which may save Edison should they be found responsible for the fire. This fund could cover up to $21 billion worth of losses if Edison is forced to pay out regarding the Eaton Fire.
Prior to the Eaton Fire, Edison's valuation was around $30 billion, but the utility's valuation has fallen by about 33 percent since the fire, as the utility's share price has been reduced by over 35 percent.
According to Shon Hiatt, a professor at USC's Marshall School of Business, companies can be generally considered at risk of bankruptcy when their liability is double their valuation. Edison's market cap is around $20 billion and it is facing around $10 billion in potential liability regarding the Eaton Fire, so Edison doesn't appear likely to go bankrupt as a result of the fire.
While utilities, under state law, don't need to reimburse the emergency fund created in 2019 when they're found to have acted prudently in order to prevent fires, Edison will need to pay back a total of $4 billion into the fund if they are found to have acted imprudently. Regardless of if Edison is found to have acted appropriately, they will need to pay $1 billion worth of claims before being granted access to the emergency fund if their equipment is found to have started the fire.
In other news, according to Edison International CEO and president Pedro Pizarro, videos of the Eaton Fire's early stages are "concerning" and could suggest a potential link to Southern California Edison equipment.
Contact an Eaton Canyon Wildfire Attorney Today
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one suffered losses like property damage, injury or evacuation costs due to the Eaton Fire. We won’t charge you any fee until and unless we obtain a recovery, and our lawyers have extensive experience in helping victims of California wildfires. Call us today.
