REFILE-Southern California Edison to pay $82.5 million for Bobcat Fire damages

May 23 (Reuters) - Southern California Edison has agreed to pay $82.5 million to the U.S. government to cover the costs of fighting the 2020 Bobcat Fire and repairing damage to the Angeles National Forest, the Justice Department said on Friday.

This is the largest wildfire-related settlement ever in California's Central District, according to the department.

SCE did not immediately respond to comment.

The Bobcat Fire ignited in September 2020 and burned more than 114,000 acres (approximately 178 square miles), of which nearly 100,000 acres were in the Angeles National Forest.

The U.S. filed a lawsuit in September 2023 on behalf of the Forest Service against SCE and Utility Tree Service to recover costs incurred fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the extensive damages that it caused to the Angeles National Forest.

The federal government claimed the fire started when trees not properly maintained came into contact with power lines. SCE has agreed to the settlement without admitting fault and must pay the amount within 60 days of the May 14 agreement.

"These settlements are essential in restoring our landscapes after wildfires," acting U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Jason Kuiken said.

Last week, SCE said it had submitted a three-year wildfire mitigation plan to California's Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety.