Compassionate Advocates For Victims of the Fairview Fire

We are currently representing dozens of property owners whose homes, ranches, livestock and businesses were damaged in this fire. We filed the first lawsuit in the Fairview Fire case against SCE on September 21, 2022. If you have been injured or your property damaged in the Fairview Fire, contact our office immediately to learn how we can help you get compensation from SCE for your damages.

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At approximately 3:37 p.m. on September 5, 2022, CAL FIRE/Riverside County firefighters responded to reports of a wildland fire at Bautista Road and Fairview Ave., in the unincorporated county area of Hemet, California. The fire was active for 13 days and destroyed 36 structures, killed two civilians, badly burned a third civilian and injured two firefighters. Just hours after the fire started, Southern California Edison Company (“SCE”) filed an Electric Safety Incident Report with the California Public Utilities Commission stating, “Our information reflects circuit activity occurred close in time to the report time of the fire.” Based upon our experience handling other wildfire cases against SCE, the term “circuit activity” likely reflects that an electrical event, such as arcing, occurred on SCE’s power-lines which was the cause of the fire.

On October 3, 2022, SCE filed a “315 Letter”[1] with the CPUC, which stated, in relevant part:

“While the investigation remains ongoing, our information reflects that on September 5, 2022 at 3:29 p.m., the Sprague 12kV circuit out of Mayberry Substation relayed to a lock-out at Remote Automatic Recloser (RAR) 0139. The SCE first responder observed a fuse operated on BF08085 which is supported by Pole No. 4905500E.

Cal Fire investigators identified two areas of interest, one of which involved the location near a pole line associated with overhead utility facilities owned by SCE and Frontier Communications (Frontier). Cal Fire also identified a separate area of interest approximately 500 feet west of the pole line, which was cordoned off with yellow and red tape.

The subject pole line was supported by Pole Nos. 220029S and 220028S. There were no downed conductors in the subject area. As part of its investigation, Cal Fire personnel requested removal of the overhead electrical and telecommunications facilities within the subject span. SCE cooperated with this request and on Monday, September 12, 2022, SCE personnel removed both No. 2 Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) overhead primary conductors, which were uncovered, 4 insulators, 2 crossarms, and a down guy wire from the subject span. Frontier also removed the telecommunication facilities and its down guy wire from the subject span the same day. All of the items removed at the request of Cal Fire were retained by Cal Fire.

Additionally, during the removal of materials, an SCE conductor and Frontier messenger exhibited what appeared to be signs of marks or damage.”

Why Robertson & Associates

Alex “Trey” Robertson, IV has been distinguished as a Southern California Super Lawyer every year since 2011, an honor conferred on less than 5% of the total lawyers in the state. Additionally, Alex holds the prestigious AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest peer rating given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

Walk The Talk

In addition to being a wildfire attorney, Trey also volunteers for a large fire department in Southern California as a fire photographer providing the Public Information Officers real-time photos and videos of major incidents to keep the public informed about the size, location and direction of wildfires in his community. Having frontline experience on the fireground helps Trey better understand fire behavior, and firefighting tactics and operations. Trey is also certified by the State of California as an Emergency Medical Technician and volunteers in his community providing emergency medical services during disasters and large community events.

Our Team

Clients & Testimonials

Naseem Ahmed
Woolsey Fire

In November of 2018 my family suffered a total burn down of our home during the Woolsey Fire in southern California. This had been our beloved home for 11 years, my wife and I had raised our two daughters there and spent much of our resources nurturing and improving this house. When the Woolsey Fire raged through the neighborhoods of Bell Canyon we had little warning, no evacuation commands from authorities, and no time to clear out our possessions. The house was consumed as I watched, virtually all of our contents with it. We lost photo albums, computers, heirloom jewelry, documents, pretty much anything that wouldn’t fit into small cars.

The loss was devastating to the four of us who lived there. We had to scramble to find a new place to live with only the clothes on our backs. Thinking nature had played a cruel trick on us, I began to hear on the news that the fire may have actually been the fault of a utility company, due to their negligence of maintenance. This is when I contacted Robertson & Associates Law Firm. Robertson confirmed that there was litigation in the works and I retained their services.

I am very pleased to say how well Robertson handled our case. They helped us every step of the way during a very complex and lengthy process. The firm’s attorneys were very skilled and knowledgeable with this type of case and I felt very confident they were leaving no stone unturned when it came to documentation, statements, or procedures. I spent many hours discussing various aspects of our case and they were always professional and courteous.

I am very pleased with the settlement we reached. Robertson aggressively represented us to the full extent and I feel they went beyond what was expected. I would like to commend the fine work of various attorneys I worked with over a nearly 3 year period: A very heartfelt thank you to Olivia Steinfeld, Mark Uyeno, and Ben Petiprin for their tremendous help in navigating this case. Of course we couldn’t have made it this far without the work of Alex Robertson, who handled our mediation first-hand.

I would highly recommend Robertson & Associates to anyone needing legal help in matters such as ours. The firm has the knowledge and skills to take on the large, complex cases.

Richard Hirsh
Principal, Cielo Farms Winery, Malibu, CA

I’d like to thank you and your team for representing me and my family during the “Woolsey Fire” lawsuit” against Edison. We could not have had a better experience/outcome, ….flawless.
“Professionalism” was a prevailing theme throughout the Edison Lawsuit experience with Robertson and Associates, as well a good communication with you and your team.
I never waited more than minutes in getting any question answered during the experience. Alex, you are a “straight shooter,” a critical ingredient in someone’s character that is so rare in today’s business environment and refreshing to say the least. During our experience together you and your team were right there for me every step of the way. You and your team made it easy for Diana and I to “prevail” in this case. Your group of experts were a direct extension of your professionalism. We could not have been more delighted at how this case turned out.
On a scale of 1-10 , 10 being exemplary, I would rate Robertson and Associates a “15” !!!
WELL DONE ALEX!
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Douglas Thomas
Woolsey Fire

Our family wants to thank your Law Firm ,your entire personnel, and especially Olivia Steinfeld, for your work and expertise in settling the Woolsey Fire with SCE. A lawsuit such as this requires professionals who know the law, have experience. In these extraordinary cases, Robertson and Associates has the ability to negotiate and settle, and doing so in a short period of time, because each day the Plaintiff is not compensated, we are in a holding pattern.
Prior to the Woolsey Fire, we were a family with twin autistic sons. Many people knew us from the Lifetime movie, Miracle Run. Our success with the education, medical and social well-being depended where we lived; close to the myriad of services an autistic person needs. We had achieved this through years of hard work.
In our case, we lost our entire home and personal belongings, and overnight had no place to live.
Our fire insurance did not cover the cost to rebuild, and Building regulations including materials are still skyrocketing. We were all traumatized: what once was a stable life vanished in flames. The staff at Robertson and Associates worked fast, even though COVID now had interrupted everything from court hearings to mediation. Every email, phone call and question was answered immediately.
Robertson and Associates repaired that life for us, my family can move on and heal. Thank you for being there for us, Robertson and Associates made a difference in our lives!

Let's Connect

We can help you navigate through the bureaucracy and get you what you are entitled to

(818) 851-3850
arobertson@arobertsonlaw.com