A coalition of law firms has filed the latest in a barrage of lawsuits against a utility company over the Thomas Fire, and Montecito’s deadly debris flows. Attorneys and some victims gathered in Montecito to announce the latest suit against Southern California Edison.
The 282,000 acre fire started off of Highway 150 near Santa Paula December 4th during strong Santa Ana winds. It set the stage for the deadly flooding and debris flows, because it stripped mountain and hillside slopes bare. 23 people died in the Montecito debris flow.
The lawsuit claims Edison had old and unsafe equipment which sparked the fire, and that the company knew about the risk. However, Ventura County and state fire investigators have not yet officially determined what started the fire.
