Silverado Fire

Compensation for SCE Wildfire Victims

If you suffered property damage from the Silverado Fire in Orange County or San Bernardino County, a Southern California Edison lawsuit could get you compensation.

Contact our Silverado Fire team directly for a free legal consultation.

SCE Lawsuit: You May Be Entitled to Silverado Fire Compensation

The report filed by SCE said that a “lashing wire” that connected a telecommunications line to a support cable might have struck a 12,000-volt conducting line above it. An investigation is currently underway.

During the days just before the Silverado Fire sparked, SCE had shut off power to more than 38,000 homes and businesses in five counties in the same region, due to high winds that they feared might knock down equipment or throw tree branches into power lines. But when the company determined the winds had let up, the rolling blackouts were lifted. The fire ignited later that day.

Helitack crews carrying water and fire retardant weren’t able to reach the blaze due to the strong winds making flying conditions unsafe, so air support was delayed until the early evening.

Other Recent SCE Fires Have Led to Legal Settlements

An SCE lawsuit or settlement is a distinct possibility if recent history is any guide. Last October, Ventura County fire investigators announced that SCE electrical equipment failures caused the 2019 Maria Fire and Easy Fire.

In November 2019, while those fires were burning, a $360 million SCE fire settlement was being finalized for the 2017 Thomas Fire and the 2018 Woolsey Fire victims, both caused by SCE equipment.

In March, SCE also announced that it would remove 11,000 palm trees that it determined were too close to its power lines in an attempt to mitigate the threat of future wildfires — a process that will take more than two years to complete.

California State regulations require that all vegetation be at least four feet from power lines in high-fire-risk areas at all times. Falling palm tree fronds are known to cause power outages and fires, according to SCE.

Two Firefighters Nearly Die in Silverado Fire

The fire also nearly took the lives of two Orange County Fire Authority firefighters trying to put out a spot fire that exploded to a 10,000-sq-ft. blaze in a matter of seconds.

Dylan Van Iwaarden, a 26-year-old firefighter, was placed in a medically induced coma and underwent 17 surgeries during a nearly four-month-long stay in the hospital after the fire left him and fellow firefighter Phil Le, 31, in critical condition. Le was in the hospital for almost two months.

Van Iwaarden suffered burns to 65% of his body, and Le had burns to 50% after the fast-growing inferno ambushed them.

Your Orange County Wildfire Attorneys

The Orange County Wildfire Lawyers at Singleton Schreiber take great pride in staying up to date on the technical and scientific components of fire cases and recent SCE lawsuits. Our fire lawyers have experience performing comprehensive wildfire investigations into fires caused by SCE and other utility companies.

Serious personal injury, wrongful death, and significant property loss often result from fires. That’s where wildfire litigation comes in. If the Silverado Fire has harmed you, a Southern California Edison lawsuit could be essential to recovering the compensation you deserve and moving on with your life.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the Silverado Fire still burning?
  The Silverado Fire was declared 100% contained on November 7, 2020.
• When and where did the Silverado Fire start?
  The Silverado Fire started on October 26, 2020, in Silverado Canyon near Irvine, CA, just off of Santiago Canyon Road and Silverado Canyon Road in northeast Orange County. It was fueled by 80-mph Santa Ana winds and excessively dry weather.
• How big was the Silverado Fire?
  The Silverado Fire spread to a total size of 13,390 acres — more than 20 square miles — and engulfed parts of Orange County and San Bernardino County. 
• How many people died in the Silverado Fire?
  Although there were no civilian casualties in the Silverado Fire, two firefighters were critically burned and hospitalized for months.
• Who caused the Silverado Fire in Irvine?
  Southern California Edison reported in March that a “lashing wire” in one of their telecommunications lines might have sparked the fire when it struck a 12,000-volt conducting line above it. 
• Did SCE know its equipment might start the Silverado Fire?
  Southern California Edison shut off power to more than 38,000 homes and businesses in five counties in the days leading up to the Silverado Fire in order to protect against high winds knocking down equipment or throwing tree branches into power lines, but the rolling blackouts were eased as the winds let up on the day the fire started.
• Is there an SCE lawsuit for the Silverado Fire? Will there be a Silverado Fire settlement?
  Any further legal action, including an SCE lawsuit, will be pending the results of currently ongoing infestations into the cause of the Silverado Fire. Victims of other recent Southern California wildfires reached a $360 million SCE settlement in 2019 when it was determined that SCE equipment started those wildfires.
• How can I get compensation for property damage or injury caused by the Silverado Fire?
  Review your claim with an experienced Southern California wildfire lawyer to determine if you can receive compensation from a Southern California Edison lawsuit. The skilled Orange County wildfire attorneys at Singleton Schreiber can help you recover the fair and full compensation you need to move forward with your life.
  
  Although there likely will be hundreds (if not thousands) of individuals who suffer damages, we handle each case individually. Our goal is to recover the maximum amount of legal damages for each individual based on each individual’s unique losses. That amount can range from tens of thousands of dollars to tens of millions. SCE has hundreds of millions of dollars available in insurance and can borrow additional funds to pay all damages caused by this fire if an SCE lawsuit is successful or a settlement is reached.
  
  If you have experienced property damage or loss caused by the Silverado Fire or another wildfire, or if you or a loved one has incurred hospitalization, severe burns or other physical injuries, wrongful death, psychological trauma, or other long-term health issues, schedule your free claim evaluation today.

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