Lawyers at the California Fire Victims Law Center argue that the fund is designed to minimize payouts for those impacted by the wildfire, while Edison maintains that filing direct claims will help victims avoid a drawn-out and costly litigation process.

Even with the investigation into the Eaton wildfire continuing, Southern California Edison said Wednesday it was creating a program where victims could apply for compensation for damages they suffered.

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