Fire investigators working to determine cause of devastating Coastal fire
Orange County fire investigators continue to probe into what caused a brush fire that destroyed 20 homes and damaged 11 others last week, with no estimated timeline on when that investigation might be completed, a fire official said Wednesday.
Capt. Sean Doran of the Orange County Fire Authority said fire investigations vary, so he did not want to estimate how long it will take to determine the cause.
The fire, which was 100% contained Tuesday, broke out in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park about 2:45 p.m. on May 11, quickly spreading uphill toward homes in the Coronado Pointe community and eventually scorching 200 acres.
Southern California Edison later that night put out a brief statement that circuit activity was detected in the area and near the time the Coastal fire started, but its offficials have not elaborated.
That hasn't stopped several affected residents from suing the utility, charging SCE is liable for the fire because of equipment failure.
“We are informed and we strongly believe that the failure of the utility's equipment was responsible for the tragic loss of the victims' homes and their displacement,” attorney Richard Bridgford said in a statement Tuesday.
In a phone interview Wednesday, he said the lawsuit's two objectives for filing the suit are to financially compensate his clients and to have the wires placed underground “to avoid this kind of catastrophe from happening every six to 12 months in Southern California, endangering residents and their property.”
The suit was filed in Orange County Superior Court on Tuesday.
“It's hard to put into words when you live in a home for 20 years, all the memories that are involved,” said Coronado Pointe resident Mike Earl, a plaintiff who lost his house. “When you have to get out of the house without a chance to get anything, it's shocking what you miss.”
Earl and his wife were still in shock a week later — “it wasn't the personal belongings, but memories from our kids and grandkids” the house helped give them that affected the couple the most.
Aside from the SCE report, Bridgford said, the burn pattern, infrared imaging and mapping and video evidence also led to the belief that the fire was started by the SCE equipment.
A SCE representative said it would be inappropriate to discuss the litigation.
“Our thoughts are with the community members whose homes have been damaged and those who were evacuated because of the Coastal fire,” spokesman Reggie Kumar said. “We are coordinating with fire agencies as needed to ensure fire safety.”