Upland Company Pays $2.5M to Settle South Fire Lawsuit

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An Upland company and its owner have paid $2.5 million to the federal government to settle a lawsuit alleging that a company excavator created sparks that ignited the 2021 South fire, which burned 680 acres in Lytle Creek and destroyed or damaged dozens of structures. The lawsuit, filed nearly three years after the fire, claimed the company was aware of the danger but failed to prevent the blaze.

Why it matters

The South fire caused significant damage in the Lytle Creek community, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. The settlement highlights the legal consequences companies can face when their equipment or actions are blamed for causing destructive wildfires, which have become an increasing threat in California due to drought and climate change.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the steel treads of an excavator operated by G.J. Gentry General Engineering hit rocks and created sparks that started the South fire on August 25, 2021. The fire burned 680 acres, including 450 acres within the San Bernardino National Forest, and destroyed 9 structures while damaging 28 others. The U.S. Forest Service spent over $2.2 million fighting the blaze.

• The South fire broke out on August 25, 2021.
• The federal lawsuit was filed nearly 3 years after the fire, in 2024.
• Gentry Engineering and its owner paid the $2.5 million settlement last month, in January 2026.

What’s next

The court dismissed the lawsuit after Gentry Engineering and Gentry paid the $2.5 million settlement last month.