SoCal Edison Sued Over Monrovia Schools Damaged In Bobcat Fire

LOS ANGELES, CA — An insurance pool filed suit against Southern California Edison Co. today, seeking reimbursement of more than $800,000 the nonprofit paid to the Monrovia Unified School District after several MUSD buildings were damaged during the 2020 Bobcat Fire.

The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit brought by the Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs alleges negligence and trespass on the part of Edison, noting that the utility stated in a letter last October to the Public Utilities Commission that SCE was investigating whether vegetation had come into contact with a conductor and started the blaze on Sept. 6, 2020.

ASCIP, a joint powers authority, is seeking $803,730 in damages.

David Song, a Southern California Edison media relations senior adviser, issued a statement regarding the lawsuit, saying that the utility's thoughts are with all those people affected by the Bobcat Fire. He said the company is aware of the complaint and will respond as part of the litigation process.

The Bobcat Fire started at Cogswell Dam on the West Fork of the San Gabriel River, burned about 116,000 acres and destroyed at least 170 homes.

The MUSD buildings damaged in the fire included the district office; the maintenance and operations office; Clifton, Mayflower, Plymouth and Wildrose elementary schools; Santa Fe Computer Magnet School; Monrovia and Canyon Oaks high schools; and Monrovia Community Adult School, according to the suit.

SCE was on “heightened awareness” of a possible fire because of the existence of a red flag warning and the condition of Edison's electrical infrastructure, yet did not de-energize any of its circuits, the suit states.