April 30 (Reuters) - Edison International ( EIX ) posted

a first-quarter loss on Tuesday from a year-ago profit as the

utility firm was hurt by claims related to wildfire and mudslide

events that occurred in 2017 and 2018.

The Rosemead, California-based company said its net loss

stood at $11 million, or 3 cents per share in the first quarter,

from a profit of $310 million, or 81 cents per share in the

year-ago quarter.

Edison said a $490 million increase in estimated losses was

recorded owing to a first-quarter review of loss estimates for

the 2017 and 2018 wildfires and mudslides.

The increase was primarily driven by information obtained

during the quarter related to the Woolsey Fire mediation program

and from settling claims through the quarter.

The Rye, Meyers, Liberty, and Thomas Fires raged across

several parts of the company's service territory in December

2017.

In 2018, the Woolsey wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura

Counties burned 96,949 acres of land and destroyed 1,643

structures. Three Californians were killed and more than 295,000

people evacuated.

Los Angeles County sued Southern California Edison Co, a

unit of Edison International ( EIX ), in 2019, alleging that the

company's damaged electrical equipment may have sparked the

fire.

"With wildfires now a national issue, litigation outcomes

outside of California are impacting the costs to resolve claims

everywhere," said Pedro Pizarro, CEO of Edison International ( EIX ).

"I reiterate that we strongly believe that cost recovery is

warranted and in the public interest, and we conservatively have

not reflected this significant potential in our financial

projections."

On an adjusted basis, Edison International ( EIX ) posted a profit

of $1.13 per share, missing analysts' average estimates of $1.15

per share, according to LSEG data.