California utility agrees to $82 million settlement over massive 2020 wildfire lawsuit.

A utility company in California has agreed to pay the federal government \$82.5 million due to a huge wildfire in 2020 that swept through the mountains northeast of Los Angeles and reached the Mojave Desert, officials said on Friday.

The U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday that Southern California Edison would make the payment. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the settlement gives “meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the … fire and for the widespread damage to public lands.”

Edison has agreed to make the payment within 60 days from May 14, the settlement’s effective date, without admitting any fault or wrongdoing, according to prosecutors.

Edison spokesperson Diane Castro stated, “Our hearts are with the people who were affected by the Bobcat Fire. We are pleased to have resolved this matter and will continue to advance wildfire mitigation measures.”

This settlement follows a 2023 lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service against Edison and Utility Tree Service. The suit aimed to recover the costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the severe damage it caused to the Angeles National Forest.

The government claimed that the fire started when trees, not properly maintained by the utility and its tree contractor, touched power lines. The fire caused long-term closures of campgrounds and more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) of trails, and damaged habitats for endangered and threatened species, including the mountain yellow-legged frog, certain fish, and birds.

“These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats and strengthen our forests’ resilience to future wildfires,” said Deputy Forest Supervisor Tony Martinez of the Angeles National Forest.

The Bobcat Fire burned around 178 square miles (461 square kilometers).

In a separate case last year, Edison agreed to pay \$80 million to settle claims for a massive 2017 wildfire that destroyed over a thousand homes and other buildings.

Officials are still looking into the cause of the Eaton Fire, which earlier this year destroyed at least 7,000 homes and other buildings, wiping out entire neighborhoods. Lawsuits against Southern California Edison claim that its equipment sparked that fire.