Thursday, February 19, 2026

L.A. County Prosecutors Probe Whether Edison Could Face Criminal Liability for Eaton Fire

The utility disclosed an District Attorney’s investigation in its annual filing Wednesday; if charges are filed, it would not be the first criminal prosecution of a California utility over a deadly wildfire.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is investigating whether Southern California Edison should be criminally prosecuted for the Eaton Fire that killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 structures across Altadena, the utility’s parent company disclosed Wednesday in a federal securities filing and an investor call, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The criminal investigation opens a new front in the legal fallout from the January 7 wildfire that devastated a wide swath of the unincorporated community northwest of Pasadena.

Edison already faces nearly 1,000 civil lawsuits from fire victims and government entities, according to court records. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a separate civil suit against Edison in September. A first bellwether trial is scheduled for January 25, 2027, in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Pedro Pizarro,

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Malibu Lawsuit Over Palisades Fire Raises Questions of Local Wildfire Liability for Pasadena, Altadena

CITY NEWS SERVICE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY

A lawsuit filed Wednesday by the city of Malibu against the state, Los Angeles County, and the city of Los Angeles over the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire could have significant implications for other wildfire-prone communities such as Pasadena and Altadena, as it seeks to hold public agencies accountable for alleged failures in fire prevention and management that mirror local concerns.

The City of Malibu filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Feb. 18 seeking unspecified damages to recover costs associated with emergency response, infrastructure repair, environmental restoration, and lost revenues stemming from the fire.

“This decision was not made lightly,” Malibu Mayor Bruce Silverstein said in a statement. “The city has an obligation to act in the best interests of our residents and taxpayers. The lawsuit seeks accountability for the extraordinary losses suffered by our community while recognizing that Malibu must continue to work collaboratively with our regional partners going forward.”

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Edison Executives Lose $2 Million in Bonuses Over Eaton Fire as Company Posts $4.5 Billion Profit

Utility that acknowledges its equipment likely sparked the Altadena blaze also expands compensation for displaced renters

Six senior executives at Southern California Edison and its parent company, Edison International, will lose an estimated $2 million in bonuses as a result of the Eaton Fire, the New York Times reported Wednesday — the same day the company reported earning $4.5 billion in net income for 2025.

The bonus reductions amount to a 40 percent cut for the six executives, according to Bloomberg. The reductions come 13 months after the fire killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 buildings in Altadena. Edison has reportedly acknowledged that its equipment most likely started the blaze, though state officials have not yet formally determined the cause.

It is only the second time Edison’s compensation committee has reduced executive pay because of a wildfire, the company told the Times. Some executives lost their entire bonus after the 2018 Woolsey fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

About half the reductions will come from the pay of Pedro J.

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Housing Improves on Paper as California Realtors Warn Economy’s Strength Masks Deeper Strains

By EDDIE RIVERA

For an economy that refuses to break, the latest numbers offer a peculiar kind of reassurance: things are getting better, except where they aren’t.

A new report from the California Association of Realtors (CAR) paints a portrait of a U.S. economy that appears resilient in headline indicators—steady job growth, moderating inflation and slightly improved housing affordability—but remains stubbornly fragile beneath the surface, weighed down by weak consumer spending, rising uncertainty among small businesses and borrowing costs that remain punishingly high by historical standards.

The contradictions are everywhere.

The labor market delivered a stronger-than-expected showing in January, with employers adding only 130,000 jobs and unemployment falling to 4.3%, neither of which is a particularly strong number. Inflation, meanwhile, has cooled, with the consumer price index rising 2.4% over the past year and core inflation slowing to 2.5%, its best reading in nearly six years.

Yet the apparent progress has not translated into widespread economic relief.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Three Pasadena Student Skaters Host Second Fire-Recovery Fundraiser at Their Home Rink

Proceeds from the March 14 event at Pasadena Ice Skating Center benefit three Eaton Fire relief organizations

Three members of the Pasadena Figure Skating Club are returning to the rink where they train to host a fundraiser for Eaton Fire recovery — the same rink that sits next to the Pasadena Convention Center, which served as an evacuation shelter for displaced residents when the fire broke out in January 2025.

The second annual Skate for LA fundraiser, scheduled for March 14 at the Pasadena Ice Skating Center, 300 E. Green St., will direct all proceeds to three organizations assisting families still rebuilding in Pasadena and Altadena: the Pasadena Educational Foundation’s Eaton Fire Response Fund, the Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund at the Pasadena Community Foundation, and Altadena Girls.

The event runs from 8 to 10 p.m. and costs $30 per person, with skate rental included.

The organizers — Kelsey Lee, a sophomore at Maranatha High School, and Ailis Hong and Carys Hong,

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Altadena Residents Press Town Council Over Southern California Edison Undergrounding Work, Citing Tree Damage and Costs

Residents urged the Altadena Town Council on Tuesday, Feb. 17, to intervene in Southern California Edison’s ongoing undergrounding of electrical lines in the foothill area, arguing the project is moving forward with minimal notice and could damage surviving trees while shifting significant costs onto homeowners.

Multiple speakers told the council that Edison’s undergrounding work, which is intended to relocate overhead electrical infrastructure below ground, has raised concerns about the potential removal or harm to mature trees that remained after recent fire damage. Residents said the work appears to be advancing without what they described as meaningful outreach or clear communication to affected neighborhoods.

Speakers also warned that homeowners may be required to pay for property-side electrical upgrades in order to connect to the new underground system. They expressed concern that the changes could result in unexpected and potentially expensive modifications to private property.

In addition, residents questioned whether the undergrounding effort would fully eliminate existing overhead infrastructure. Some said they feared neighborhoods could be left with new surface features such as utility vaults and transformers,

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Chu Introduces Bill to Boost Federal Funding for Pet Rescue During Disasters

Bipartisan legislation would nearly double the federal share of animal emergency preparedness costs, citing last year’s fire

When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena and parts of Pasadena on January 7, 2025, families fled with minutes to spare. Many left pets behind. Others refused to go at all.

Rep. Judy Chu, whose 28th Congressional District includes Pasadena, cited those decisions last week when she joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing the PETSAFE Act, a bill that would make it significantly cheaper for local governments to prepare for animal evacuation and sheltering during disasters. The bill, formally known as the Providing Essential Temporary Shelter for Emergencies Act, was introduced February 9 as H.R. 7438 and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

The legislation would increase the federal cost share for companion animal emergency preparedness from 50 percent to 90 percent. Under current law, communities must cover half the cost of animal disaster planning activities. The PETSAFE Act would reduce that local burden to 10 percent,

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

‘Altadena Forever Run’ Delivers $148,485 to Fire Relief Fund

Organizers presented ceremonial checks totaling $148,485.84 to the Altadena Eaton Fire Relief Fund at a Town Council meeting

The inaugural “Altadena Forever Run” has contributed a total of $148,485.84 to the Altadena Eaton Fire Relief Fund, organizers announced as they presented ceremonial checks to the Altadena Town Council on Tuesday night. The total was the result of a combination of race proceeds and direct donations.

The run event, a partnership between the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, the Sheriff’s Support Group of Altadena (SSGA), and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Athletic Association, drew 3,211 registered participants for its Jan. 4 race day.

These proceeds were shared between two organizations. The Altadena Eaton Fire Relief Fund received 67% of the proceeds, amounting to a check for $102,047.32. The remaining 33% was allocated to the Sheriff’s Support Group of Altadena.

The relief fund’s total was further bolstered by two other sources of revenue.

A second check for $17,010.52 was presented, representing direct donations made by participants when they registered for the race.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Who’s Running for California Insurance Commissioner? Here’s a Look at the Field of Candidates

From CALMATTERS

Editor’s Note: This story is part of California Voices published by CalMatters, a California-focused, nonprofit news organization that covers state politics, policy, and major quality-of-life issues such as housing, education, health care, the environment, and the economy. California Voices is a commentary forum aiming to broaden our understanding of the state and spotlight Californians directly impacted by policy or its absence. Learn more here.

Because of the first anniversary of the devastating Southern California wildfires, CalMatters asked candidates for the 2026 state Insurance Commissioner race to share thoughts on what the state can do to help victims and stabilize insurers. Here are excerpts and links to their answers.

Patrick Wolff

“Solving our insurance crisis starts with reorienting the California Department of Insurance. It is too lax regulating insurance companies’ behavior, yet too strict controlling their market access. Customers lose both ways…

“I will have the insurance department release company-specific data and publish a claims performance report card for each insurance company,

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Political Gumbo: The Politics of the Fire

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

The state Attorney General’s Office announced a civil rights investigation into the response to the January 2025 Eaton Fire last week, questioning whether race, age or disability discrimination contributed to delays in emergency notifications and evacuations in the historically black West Altadena area.

Yes, the wind-driven fire led to the deaths of 19 people, all West Altadena residents.

“The investigation we’ve launched is driven by one overarching question — did the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s delay in notifying and evacuating the historically Black West Altadena community.”

Don’t jump up and down.

Our leaders have no problem rightfully pointing out low hanging fruit issues that the majority of residents across the state find horrific, read ICE and Epstein files.

But they have issues when it comes to pointing out the flaws in our very system.

There was one fire truck in West Altadena, and more than 60 in East Altadena.