The state forestry department has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison and T-Mobile for allegedly causing the Silverado fire that swept through Silverado and Santiago canyons in Orange County two years ago, scorching about 12,470 acres and damaging 16 structures.
In the lawsuit filed Oct. 20, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire, claims the blaze started during a Santa Ana Winds event Oct. 26, 2020, alleging a 12,000-volt electric conductor came too close to a T-Mobile communications line.
The close contact caused electricity to arc between the lines, igniting the wildfire, according to the lawsuit. An eyewitness watched the fire start and spread rapidly.
CalFire claims the companies failed to properly design, construct, install, operate, control, inspect, and maintain the electrical and communications equipment, resulting in multiple arching and sparks that melted portions of power lines and telecommunications equipment.
Two Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) firefighters, Dylan Van Iwaarden and Phi Le, suffered critical burn injuries during the fire. The two firefighters were hospitalized in critical condition after they became trapped while setting backfires to slow the wildfire, according to investigators.
The injured firefighters sustained second- and third-degree burns on Oct. 26, 2020, one over 65 percent of his body and the other over half his body, according to OCFA. Van Iwaarden was released after four months in the hospital and Le was released after about a month, according to local news reports.
With the lawsuit, CalFire is attempting to recover firefighting and investigation costs for its agency and OCFA, which is authorized under state law. The agency is also asking for reimbursement of legal fees.
CalFire was unable to disclose how much money they are seeking to recoup because they do not comment on pending litigation, agency spokesperson Capt. Robert Foxworthy told The Epoch Times.
Southern California Edison spokesperson David Eisenhauer told The Epoch Times the company is fully cooperating with fire officials.
“Our thoughts remain with those who were affected by the fire, including the two firefighters who were seriously injured,” Eisenhauer told The Epoch times. “We have cooperated fully with fire officials throughout their review. SCE has not yet been served with the complaint but will respond as part of the ongoing proceedings.”
T-Mobile did not respond to a request for comment.
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