Federal Government Suing Southern California Edison over 2009 Fire

Just days before the federal statute of limitations would have run out, the government has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison in connection to a 2009 fire that primarily burned the San Bernardino National Forest east of Hemet.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported that according to the lawsuit filed last week, an equipment malfunction sparked the fire that burned almost 4 square miles, about 3 of which were national forest land.

The fire started Aug. 27, 2009 and was contained four days later. It cost more than $2.65 million to suppress.

The federal statute of limitations for fires is six years, compared with the state of California’s three.

An Edison spokesman said the utility company’s policy is not to comment on pending litigation.