Utility-caused wildfires have produced some of the largest settlements in American tort history. Each followed its own path, but together they establish patterns in how claims are valued, how long resolution takes, and what victims should expect from a utility’s early compensation efforts.
Four precedents
Camp Fire, 2018 (PG&E). 85 deaths, a town destroyed. PG&E filed for bankruptcy and established a $13.5 billion victim trust. Payments were slow and partly in stock, and many victims ultimately received less than their assessed losses — a cautionary tale about utility solvency.
Thomas Fire, 2017 (SCE). SCE settled with individual plaintiffs and public entities over several years. In 2025 regulators allowed SCE to recover $1.7 billion of settlement costs through rates — a structure that makes fast settlement financially rational for the utility.
Woolsey Fire, 2018 (SCE). Settled through individual negotiation and coordinated proceedings. Claimants who litigated with full documentation generally recovered more than early settlers.
Eaton Fire, 2025 (SCE). The first where the utility launched a large-scale direct compensation program while litigation proceeded — $750 million-plus offered to date, with a November 30, 2026 claim deadline.
The lesson of the Camp Fire was that a bankrupt utility cannot pay. The lesson of the Thomas and Woolsey fires was that a solvent utility settles — on terms shaped by what litigation would cost it.
Direct2Attorney · Litigation ContextWhat is different this time
Factors favoring claimants
Relative to past fires- The state Wildfire Fund backstops SCE's liability
- Forensic evidence from removed towers is unusually direct
- Coordinated court with prioritized bellwethers
- SCE has a demonstrated settlement pattern
Factors requiring care
Where claimants have been hurt before- Fast programs pay fast, not necessarily fully
- Releases cover future health claims
- SCE's "spread theory" may add defendants and delay
- Documentation gaps reduce recoveries in every program
What past programs suggest about timing
Direct compensation offers typically resolve within months. Litigated claims in past SCE fires took two to four years, with the largest recoveries going to plaintiffs with catastrophic, well-documented losses. Bellwether verdicts, when they occur, have historically pushed remaining cases toward settlement. The Eaton Fire litigation is roughly where the Woolsey litigation was eighteen months in.
What this means if you're considering a claim
History suggests SCE will resolve these claims, and that how much each family receives depends heavily on documentation and on whether an early offer was accepted without review. If you have losses from the Eaton Fire or another utility-linked wildfire, a free review can put your situation in the context of what past claimants recovered and which path fits.
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Common Questions
The Wildfire Fund was created specifically to reduce that risk. SCE has said it expects to draw on it for Eaton Fire liabilities.
Reported outcomes suggest well-documented litigated claims generally exceeded early direct settlements, though every case differs.
Past SCE fires resolved through individual and grouped settlements rather than a single fund. The Eaton Fire may follow that model.
Its cause is different and it is not utility-linked in the same way, so the precedents apply differently. A firm can evaluate.
No. Direct2Attorney’s review is free, and participating law firms typically work on contingency, meaning fees are generally paid only if there is a recovery. Confirm fee terms in writing with the firm.
