Federal officials allege that the Bobcat fire, which burned more than 114,000 acres in 2020, ignited when trees that were not properly maintained by Southern California Edison and its tree maintenance contractor came into contact with power lines.

Southern California Edison (SCE), a unit of utility Edison International, agreed on Friday to pay $82.5 million to settle claims with the U.S. Forest Service for costs and damages resulting from the Bobcat Fire in 2020.

The United States filed a lawsuit in 2023 on behalf of the Forest Service against SCE and Utility Tree Service, claiming that the utility did not properly maintain trees that came into contact with power lines,