2018 has not been a kind year for many Californians. During the latter half of the year, many residents have lost their homes in some of the most destructive wildfires in the state’s history. There have been millions of acres burned, billions of dollars in property damages and over 100 lives lost from these disasters.
Several state leaders and politicians have been trying to determine the causes of these wildfires to aid the victims that lost their homes and loved ones and preventing so many from happening ever again. Recent reports suggest that officials may have found a cause for at least one of these fires and legal action is being taken against the source. Residents should pay close attention to cases such as these to know what to do in case their home is destroyed by a liable source.
Lost in the flames
One of the more notable destructive wildfires was the Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties from November 8th to the 21st. According to the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, there were nearly 97,000 acres burned, over 1,600 buildings destroyed and 3 civilian fatalities. The fire gained significant media attention due to the millions of citizens put in danger. Many high-profile celebrities in the area lost their homes in the process.
Several recent lawsuits suggest that the primary electricity supply company of Southern California is to blame. Southern California Edison apparently found a disturbance in their operations right around the same time and place the wildfire started. The attorneys believe that the utility company did not properly maintain its electrical equipment near a highly vegetated area. They also got word from firefighters that the fire started right below the power lines. It doesn’t help that Southern California Edison previously admitted that their faulty equipment contributed to the massive Thomas Fire earlier this year that also took place in Ventura County.
Getting back what’s lost
The Woolsey Fire has destroyed thousands of lives. Many residents in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties have lost their homes, their property and a lot of money that they have been building up for potentially decades through no fault of their own. The amount of investigation dedicated to uncovering what caused these disasters is higher than it has ever been before. There could be more companies liable for these wildfires than just Southern California Edison.
If you are an unfortunate victim of these blazes, you need to consider your legal options. Schimmel & Parks can assist you to pursue your fire claims in court and represent you to recover all of your damages.