Los Angeles County said Wednesday that it’s suing Southern California Edison, alleging the utility’s equipment sparked January’s Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 9,400 structures and killed 17 people in the Altadena area.

The lawsuit is the latest to allege that Edison's equipment caused the blaze, which destroyed about 9,000 homes and killed 17 people. Residents have filed more than 40 lawsuits against the utility, focused on transmission towers where the first flames were spotted.

The County of Los Angeles and City of Pasadena, along with other public entities, filed lawsuits against Edison International and its subsidiary Southern California Edison on Wednesday, alleging their role in igniting one of California's worst wildfires.