Southern California Edison announced this week that it will create a program to compensate victims of January’s devastating Eaton Fire near Los Angeles, even as the cause of the blaze that killed 19 people remains under investigation.

California officials have not yet determined whether Southern California Edison caused the fire, which killed 17 people and destroyed thousands of properties.

The Eaton Fire’s cause is still under investigation, but Southern California Edison is planning to launch a fund to compensate those affected. Survivors say the utility is trying to “buy us off.”

Tesla electric vehicles charge as people wait in line outside the Tesla Diner and Drive-In restaurant and Supercharger on July 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The futuristic Tesla Diner and supercharger station boasting a drive-in experience for drivers opened in Hollywood this Monday.

Elon Musk has expanded his Tesla footprint into the food world, opening the flagship Tesla Diner in California earlier this week. The two-story building in Hollywood encompasses roughly 9,300 square feet,