New York Utilities Sued Over Homes Damaged by Fires During Sandy

About 120 home owners from the tight-knit Queens enclave of Breezy Point that was devastated by fires during Superstorm Sandy are suing two utility companies for negligence.

A lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court in Queens says the Long Island Power Authority and National Grid failed to stop energy from flowing to their homes despite industry standards during emergency weather events.

The lawsuit says the fires that destroyed about 150 homes were caused because the utilities did not de-energize the system, allowing wires and circuits to come into contact with flood water. It says the utilities knew at least since Hurricane Irene in 2011 to de-energize the system.

Spokeswomen for the two utilities said in separate emails their companies’ responses were appropriate and the lawsuit’s claims were without merit.