The U.S. government filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison on Thursday, blaming the utility’s equipment for sparking two wildfires, including the Eaton Fire in January that damaged National Forest System lands.

The lawsuits against the unit of Edison International were filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in Los Angeles federal court.

They seek more than $77 million in damages for the utility’s alleged negligence, trespass by fire and violations of California public safety laws in causing the Eaton Fire and the September 2022 Fairview Fire.

“But for Edison’s negligence, these fires would not have started,” Bill Essayli, the acting U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, said at a press conference. “Fire season is coming up again. We want Edison to change the way it does business

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