Overview

• Plaintiffs allege California State Parks failed to monitor a smoldering burn scar in Topanga State Park that reignited on Jan. 7 and sparked the catastrophic blaze.
• The suit charges that an LADWP worker took nearly five hours to de-energize circuits during the fire and later tried to alter computer logs to mask the delay.
• Victims contend the 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez Reservoir was drained months earlier and unrepaired, forcing firefighting helicopters to lose over six hours in distant refills.
• The complaint asserts city agencies allowed flammable brush to grow unchecked, undermining containment efforts and accelerating the fire’s spread.
• LADWP denies any equipment role in starting or worsening the fire and has weeks to respond as the court weighs agency accountability.