conflagration

The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that the Palisades conflagration “was caused by both LADWP’s water and power assets, specifically empty reservoirs and energized powerlines.”

Meanwhile, many residents in Altadena — which would end up seeing the worst damage from the conflagration — felt left in the dark, seemingly lost in the chaos.

While the cause of the Eaton fire — which killed 18 people and destroyed more than 9,000 structures in Altadena — remains under investigation, residents have filed several lawsuits blaming Edison for sparking the conflagration.

“The unprecedented community conflagrations in January of 2025 highlighted the critical need for and importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable populations during emergencies,” Marrone said in a statement.

It was that Broadway history and Black American history were converging in a performer who was offering her gifts to an audience in a climactic conflagration.