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Robertson & Associates was representing people affected by the Bobcat Fire
Status as of June 15, 2026. Please confirm current status with the firm.
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The Bobcat Fire (2020) was a California wildfire in Los Angeles County (Angeles National Forest), with 115,796 acres, 171 structures destroyed, 0 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per Edison International Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC. Robertson & Associates was representing people affected by this fire as of June 15, 2026.
The Bobcat Fire burned about 116,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains in the fall of 2020, one of the largest fires in Los Angeles County history. Most of what it burned was national forest, but it destroyed 171 structures, 87 of them homes, largely in the Antelope Valley foothills.
Federal investigators concluded that a Southern California Edison wire touching a tree limb started it. State utility regulators, looking at the same event, found no rule violation and said their evidence did not point to vegetation contact. This page reports both findings and does not choose between them.
The lawsuits are nearly finished. Los Angeles County settled its claims in December 2023 and received over $80 million. The United States settled for $82.5 million in May 2025, which the Justice Department described as the largest wildfire cost recovery settlement in the Central District of California. Edison reports that the insurers' claims are settled, and its most recent filing says it has settled substantially all of the claims filed against it over the fire.
What individuals received is not public. Neither is the court in which their cases were heard: Edison's filings do not name it, and we have not found it on another source we can cite.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2020-09-06 |
| Containment date | 2020-11-08 |
| Region / counties | Los Angeles |
| Acreage | 115,796 |
| Structures destroyed | 171 |
| Structures damaged | 47 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Public settlement information | Southern California Edison agreed to pay the United States $82.5 million, effective May 14, 2025, without admitting wrongdoing or fault. Los Angeles County received over $80 million under a settlement announced December 19, 2023. Amounts paid to insurers and individuals are not public. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Cause
The U.S. Forest Service led the investigation, because the fire began in the Angeles National Forest near Cogswell Dam. Southern California Edison told the Securities and Exchange Commission that in May 2023 it received the Forest Service report, which finds that the Bobcat Fire was caused when an SCE electrical wire made contact with a tree limb. The California Public Utilities Commission reached a different view in its own investigation: its safety division reported on August 31, 2022 that it found no violation of its rules by SCE and that the evidence available to it did not suggest contact between a conductor and vegetation. Both findings are on the public record. SCE settled the federal and county claims without admitting wrongdoing or fault.
What happened
The Bobcat Fire was reported on September 6, 2020 near Cogswell Dam in the Angeles National Forest. It burned in two directions over the following weeks: south toward the foothill cities, where parts of Arcadia and Sierra Madre were ordered to evacuate on September 13, and north into the Antelope Valley, where Juniper Hills and neighboring communities were ordered out on September 17 and homes were lost. CAL FIRE records 115,796 acres burned and gives November 8, 2020 as the date of full containment; Los Angeles County Public Works gives December 18, 2020. The Justice Department counted 171 structures destroyed and 47 damaged. Six firefighters were injured.
Bobcat Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Bobcat Fire is reported near Cogswell Dam in the Angeles National Forest.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
Parts of Arcadia and Sierra Madre are ordered to evacuate.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
SCE files an incident report with the CPUC after the Forest Service asks to collect a section of its conductor.
Source: SCE report filed with the California Public Utilities Commission
Juniper Hills and other Antelope Valley foothill areas are ordered to evacuate.
Source: CBS News Los Angeles
CAL FIRE records the fire as 100 percent contained.
Source: CAL FIRE, 2020 Fire Siege report
The CPUC safety division reports no violation of its rules by SCE.
Source: California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
In May 2023, SCE receives the U.S. Forest Service report finding that an SCE wire contacted a tree limb.
Source: Edison International and Southern California Edison, filed with the SEC
The United States sues SCE and Utility Tree Service in federal court in Los Angeles.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
Los Angeles County announces it has settled its claims and received over $80 million.
The Justice Department announces that SCE will pay $82.5 million to resolve the federal lawsuit.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
Edison reports that it has settled substantially all Bobcat Fire claims.
Source: Edison International and Southern California Edison, filed with the SEC
Litigation status
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per Edison International Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC.
Multiple lawsuits over the Bobcat Fire named Southern California Edison as defendant, brought by individual plaintiffs, by insurers and by the United States. On September 1, 2023 the United States sued SCE and its tree maintenance contractor, Utility Tree Service, in federal court in Los Angeles, alleging they failed to properly maintain trees that came into contact with power lines. That case settled: the Justice Department announced on May 23, 2025 that SCE would pay $82.5 million, under an agreement effective May 14, 2025, with no admission of wrongdoing or fault. On December 19, 2023 the County of Los Angeles announced that it had settled its Bobcat Fire claims against SCE and received over $80 million; SCE denied liability. Edison's annual report for 2025 states that SCE has settled substantially all of the claims that were filed against it related to the Bobcat Fire, and its report for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 repeats that statement. That is the company's own disclosure, and substantially all is not all. The California Public Utilities Commission's safety division concluded its investigation on August 31, 2022 with no violation found and no penalty.
Resolved means that matters over this fire have been settled or closed on the public record. It does not mean every claim is closed, and it says nothing about any individual situation.
Court & regulatory record
- Southern California Edison agrees to pay United States $82.5 million to resolve Bobcat Fire lawsuit (May 23, 2025) , U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California (Case Release 25-155)
- U.S. files lawsuit seeking damages from Southern California Edison and tree service for the Bobcat Fire (September 1, 2023) , U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- County settles Bobcat Fire claims against Southern California Edison , Office of the County Counsel, County of Los Angeles
- Bobcat Fire incident investigation report (August 31, 2022) , California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division (Case E20200915-03)
- SCE incident report for the Bobcat Fire (September 15, 2020) , Filed with the California Public Utilities Commission
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025: 2020 Bobcat Fire , Edison International and Southern California Edison, filed with the SEC
This is a reported public-record status, not advice about any individual’s legal situation. Deadlines and eligibility change over time and depend on facts specific to each person. If you have questions about yours, contact us and we will help.
Key figures on the public record
Each figure below was published by the court, agency, or company named beside it, on the date shown. These describe the case and the disaster, not any individual’s situation.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Acres burned | 115,796 | CAL FIRE, 2020 Fire Siege report, November 8, 2020 |
| Structures destroyed | 171 | U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, September 1, 2023 |
| Of which, homes | 87 | U.S. Forest Service, as reported in Edison International Form 10-K, February 11, 2026 |
| Structures damaged | 47 | U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, September 1, 2023 |
| Settlement with the United States | $82.5 million | U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, May 23, 2025 |
| Settlement with Los Angeles County | Over $80 million | Office of the County Counsel, County of Los Angeles, December 19, 2023 |
| Suppression cost, estimated by fire authorities | About $80 million | Edison International Form 10-K, February 11, 2026 |
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Bobcat Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- May 23, 2025SoCal Edison settles claims over LA County monster wildfire for $82.5 millionCourthouse News Service
- May 23, 2025Edison agrees to pay $82.5 million to resolve lawsuit stemming from Bobcat Fire, DOJ saysABC7 Los Angeles
- May 23, 2025SoCal Edison to pay a record $82M for Bobcat Fire damagesNBC4 Los Angeles
- May 23, 2025SoCal Edison agrees to pay $82.5 million for Bobcat FireCBS News Los Angeles
- May 23, 2025SoCal Edison to pay record settlement for sparking massive LA County wildfireKTLA 5
- Sep 2, 2023Justice Department sues utility company over 2020 Bobcat FireABC7 Los Angeles
- Sep 2, 2023Federal lawsuit filed against SoCal Edison for 2020 Bobcat FireKTLA 5
- Sep 1, 2023US sues SoCal Edison for $100 million in damages from 2020 wildfireCourthouse News Service
- Sep 1, 2023U.S. sues SoCal Edison seeking damages from devastating Bobcat FireCBS News Los Angeles
- Oct 12, 2020Bobcat Fire Possibly Caused By Tree Branch Touching Overhead ConductorNBC Los Angeles
Common questions about the Bobcat Fire
What caused the Bobcat Fire?
The U.S. Forest Service led the investigation, because the fire began in the Angeles National Forest near Cogswell Dam. Southern California Edison told the Securities and Exchange Commission that in May 2023 it received the Forest Service report, which finds that the Bobcat Fire was caused when an SCE electrical wire made contact with a tree limb. The California Public Utilities Commission reached a different view in its own investigation: its safety division reported on August 31, 2022 that it found no violation of its rules by SCE and that the evidence available to it did not suggest contact between a conductor and vegetation. Both findings are on the public record. SCE settled the federal and county claims without admitting wrongdoing or fault.
Is there litigation over the Bobcat Fire?
Resolved / settled. Status as of October 1, 2026, per Edison International Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC. Robertson & Associates was representing people affected by this fire as of June 15, 2026.
What areas did the Bobcat Fire affect?
The Bobcat Fire (Los Angeles County (Angeles National Forest)) affected communities including Juniper Hills, Valyermo, Monrovia, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Duarte, Bradbury.
How large was the Bobcat Fire?
115,796 acres, 171 structures destroyed, 0 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
What caused the Bobcat Fire?
The U.S. Forest Service found that the 2020 Bobcat Fire in Los Angeles County was caused when a Southern California Edison electrical wire made contact with a tree limb near Cogswell Dam. SCE disclosed that finding in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The California Public Utilities Commission's safety division separately found no violation of its rules by SCE.
When did the Bobcat Fire start and how large was it?
The Bobcat Fire was reported on September 6, 2020 near Cogswell Dam in the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, California. CAL FIRE records 115,796 acres burned and full containment on November 8, 2020.
Was the Bobcat Fire lawsuit settled?
Yes, in large part. Southern California Edison agreed to pay the United States $82.5 million to resolve the federal Bobcat Fire lawsuit, announced May 23, 2025, and Los Angeles County received over $80 million under a settlement announced December 19, 2023. Edison reports that it has settled substantially all of the claims filed against it over the Bobcat Fire.
How many homes burned in the Bobcat Fire?
The U.S. Forest Service reported that the 2020 Bobcat Fire destroyed an estimated 87 homes, one commercial property and 83 minor structures, 171 structures in all, and damaged an estimated 28 homes and 19 minor structures.
Did the CPUC penalize Southern California Edison for the Bobcat Fire?
No. The California Public Utilities Commission's Safety and Enforcement Division issued its Bobcat Fire investigation report on August 31, 2022 and found no violation of General Order 95 by Southern California Edison. No penalty was imposed.
Sources
- 2020 Fire Siege report, CAL FIRE
- Southern California Edison agrees to pay United States $82.5 million, U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- U.S. files lawsuit seeking damages from Southern California Edison and tree service, U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- County settles Bobcat Fire claims against Southern California Edison, Office of the County Counsel, County of Los Angeles
- Bobcat Fire incident investigation report E20200915-03, California Public Utilities Commission, Safety and Enforcement Division
- SCE incident report for the Bobcat Fire, California Public Utilities Commission
- Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, Edison International and Southern California Edison, filed with the SEC
- Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, Edison International and Southern California Edison, filed with the SEC
- Bobcat Fire Burned Area Brief, Los Angeles County Public Works
- Bobcat Fire evacuations, Antelope Valley, CBS News Los Angeles
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.