Southern California Edison (SCE) announced it will provide millions of dollars in compensation to families who lost loved ones in the Eaton Fire, which swept through greater Los Angeles in January 2025. The blaze burned 14,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and claimed the lives of 19 people.
The utility company, owned by Edison International, has launched the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program. This program lets affected individuals and businesses submit claims to receive payments for loss of life, property damage, and other related costs.
The Eaton Fire was one of the deadliest wildfires in recent California history, wiping out more than 9,400 single-family homes and other buildings. SCE’s CEO, Pedro Pizarro, acknowledged how difficult it is to assign a dollar value to the tragedy, especially when lives have been lost.
Each death claim will include $5 million per victim, along with additional compensation for pain and suffering and economic losses. After feedback from the community, SCE expanded the program to cover properties damaged by ash and smoke, increasing the total number of eligible properties from around 12,000 to nearly 18,000.
Residents whose main homes were destroyed will receive $115,000 for each adult and $75,000 for each child in the household. This marks a 50% rise in child-related payments compared to earlier figures.
The company aims to settle claims quickly. People who file will get a settlement offer within 90 days. Payments will follow 30 days after all conditions set in the settlement are met.
While there is no official cause yet, SCE has said that evidence points to one of its dormant high-voltage transmission lines as a possible source. The fire started amid strong winds exceeding 100 mph in early January.
SCE has $1 billion in self-insurance funded by customers to cover claims. Any losses beyond that figure may come from California’s Wildfire Insurance Fund, which holds about $22 billion.
To develop the program, SCE worked with Kenneth Feinberg, known for managing the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, and his colleague Camille Biros. Biros explained that the program’s goal is to get money to families fast, with as little hassle as possible.
“They’re already going through enough,” she said. “This program helps families get the support they need quickly.”
With this new approach, Southern California Edison hopes to ease some of the financial burdens on those affected by one of the most devastating wildfires in the region’s recent history.