Four years after the 2007 Malibu Canyon wildfire, a state safety agency is recommending that Southern California Edison and four cellphone companies be charged with $99.2 million in fines for their culpability in the fire.
The Consumer Protection and Safety Commission, in a filing Friday, stated that Sprint Telephony, Next G Neworks of California, AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless, along with SCE each committed several safety violations by overloading the power poles, according to the Sacramento Bee.
The fire started when downed power lines in Malibu Canyon carrying sparked dry brush on Oct. 21, 2007, sweeping flames down the canyon to the Civic Center area and destroying 14 structures and 36 vehicles.
Edison spokeswoman Lauren Bartlett told the newspaper that SCE believes the proposed fines are not supported by evidence and are excessive.