The historic Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center has filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Southern California Edison (SCE), asserting that the utility’s negligence sparked the deadly Eaton Fire that destroyed its sanctuary, preschool, and community buildings in January 2025.
The complaint alleges that Edison failed to follow its own wildfire safety protocols despite clear warnings of extreme fire danger that day. According to the filing, electrical faults and arcing behavior were detected on SCE transmission lines in Eaton Canyon shortly after 6:10 p.m., just moments before the fire erupted and swept through the temple’s two-acre campus. Witnesses reportedly observed sparks near transmission towers right before the blaze spread.
Plaintiffs contend that Edison neglected to de-energize lines, failed to disable automatic reclosing mechanisms, and left an idle, decommissioned transmission line in place — all conditions they argue created a foreseeable wildfire hazard that catalyzed the Eaton Fire. The lawsuit further claims that the utility overlooked “Red Flag” warnings and disregarded the area’s designation as a High Fire Threat District.
The Eaton Fire, driven by severe wind and drought conditions, became one of Southern California’s most destructive wildfires, consuming tens of thousands of acres, killing at least 17 people, and razing more than 9,000 structures, including homes, schools, and places of worship.
Senior Rabbi Joshua Ratner described the loss of the temple campus as not only a material destruction but a spiritual and emotional blow to a congregation that has served families since the early 20th century. While sacred Torah scrolls were rescued from the flames, the sanctuary, classrooms, preschool, and community facilities were lost. The temple has met at temporary locations for more than a year since the fire.
The lawsuit seeks financial compensation for the destruction of the campus and injunctive relief to prevent similar failures in the future. Attorneys representing the congregation argue that holding Edison accountable is a key step toward community rebuilding and ensuring meaningful safety reforms.
Southern California Edison has publicly acknowledged that its equipment was “likely involved” in igniting the fire, but the utility maintains that investigations remain ongoing and disputes some claims of negligence. Edison faces thousands of lawsuits from fire victims and related entities, including government actions by Los Angeles County, the City of Pasadena, and others seeking compensation for far-reaching damages linked to the blaze.
The case highlights ongoing legal and policy debates over utility accountability, wildfire prevention measures, infrastructure maintenance, and community safety as California grapples with increasingly severe fire risk amid climate pressures and aging electrical systems.
