AAC Evaluating Riverside County Wildfire Cases as Fairview Fire Grows
Firefighters are scrambling to contain a deadly wildfire near Hemet that has ballooned to over 27,000 acres. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the fast-moving Fairview fire that sparked on Labor Day killed two people inside a vehicle who tried to escape the flames. A third victim suffered severe burns and is recovering in the hospital.
Our hearts go out to the families affected by this devastating wildfire which is compounded by the excessive heatwave throughout the Inland Empire. Our firm closely monitors these situations and evaluates cases involving wildfire injuries, damage, and destruction.
What We Know
News outlets report that the intense wildfire has destroyed at least seven structures and mandatory evacuations remain in place for about 3,400 homes south of Stetson Avenue, north of Cactus Valley Road, west of Bautista Canyon, and east of State street.
According to KTLA, Southern California Edison reported circuit activity shortly before witnesses spotted the first flames. An investigation is underway to determine if the utility’s equipment played a role in starting the wildfire.
In December 2021, SoCal Edison was fined more than $550 million for their role in sparking the Thomas, Woolsey, Rye, Meyers, and Liberty fires. The Thomas fire erupted in December 2017, burning nearly 282,000 acres and destroying more than 1,000 structures across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. It was previously considered the state’s largest wildfire in history.
The Woolsey Fire was a destructive wildfire that first ignited in November 2018 and spread throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County. According to Cal Fire, nearly 97,000 acres were burned by the Woolsey fire, damaging more than 1,500 structures. In December 2018, 170 homeowners and businesses whose properties were damaged or destroyed by the fire filed mass tort lawsuits against SCE over their part in starting the fire. In October 2019, Southern California Edison admitted that its equipment was responsible for igniting the wildfire and issued a settlement for agencies affected.
