California utilities fund Wildfire Victims First group amid survivor backlash

A coalition called Wildfire Victims First was created with money from California’s three largest for‑profit electric utilities—Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric. The group has been sending mailers and paying for social‑media ads urging Californians to contact legislators and “fix our wildfire problem to make California more affordable.”

Survivors of the 2023 Eaton fire, which destroyed homes in Altadena and killed 19 people, say the campaign misrepresents them. The utilities‑funded group is lobbying in Sacramento for proposals in a study ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom to guide new wildfire‑related legislation. The study largely omits utilities’ role in sparking fires and includes measures that would limit pain‑and‑suffering compensation, cap attorney fees and shift more costs onto victims, insurers and taxpayers. A letter signed by organizations such as Every Fire Survivor’s Network, Public Citizen, Consumer Watchdog and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network urged Newsom to hold utilities accountable. The NAACP Pasadena president highlighted the impact on Altadena’s historic Black community.