(Update: Feb. 29, 2024) — Los Padres National Forest officials announced that they are receiving $37.7 million from Southern California Edison in the Thomas Fire cost recovery settlement.
The money will go to ongoing efforts to repair roads, trails, bridges, and recreation sites damaged by the fire, according to the press release.
“The Thomas Fire was the largest wildfire in Los Padres history; its impacts and aftermath are still being felt today,” said Los Padres Forest Supervisor Chris Stubbs. “This settlement provides the funding that will be required to address the widespread damage caused by this tragic event.”
The Thomas Fire started in two locations, Anlauf Canyon north of Santa Paula and the top of Koenigstein in Upper Ojai, on the evening of December 4, 2017. The two fires joined and came to be known as the Thomas Fire.
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(Original: Feb. 26, 2024) — A lawsuit stemming from the 2017 Thomas Fire has been resolved.
Southern California Edison has agreed to pay $80 million to the United States.
The claims are on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service to recoup costs and damages made by the fire in the Los Padres National Forest.
According to the DOJ, this is the largest wildfire cost recovery by the U.S. in the Central District of California.
The U.S. claims Southern California Edison owned the power lines that fell and sparked the fire, which burned more than 280,000 acres in both Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
