The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SoCal Edison), accusing the utility of igniting the deadly Eaton Fire and other wildfires that resulted in significant destruction and loss of life. Prosecutors allege that the company exhibited a troubling pattern of negligence, linking its equipment to the fires that devastated large areas, including national forest lands. The government is seeking over $40 million in damages, asserting that the utility must be held accountable for the catastrophic impact of the wildfires, which killed 21 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. This legal action highlights growing regulatory and liability challenges for utility companies amid rising wildfire risks.