SoCal Edison's report says its equipment may have caused Eaton, Hurst fires
SoCal Edison says equipment likely started Hurst Fire
Southern California Edison says its equipment likely sparked the Hurst Fire that broke out on Jan. 7.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - On Thursday, Southern California Edison submitted two letters to the California Public Utilities Commission on their ongoing investigations into the origins of the Eaton and Hurst fires that both erupted on the windy evening of Jan. 7 in Los Angeles County.
SoCal Edison has been hit with multiple lawsuits that allege its equipment started the deadly Eaton Fire in Altadena and surrounding areas, and on Thursday, company officials said this was likely the origin of the Hurst Fire in Sylmar.
While Thursday’s report doesn’t specify an exact cause of how the fires started, videos have suggested a possible connection to SCE’s equipment.
Eaton Fire
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Thousands were left without homes and 17 people were killed in the Eaton Fire that erupted in Altadena and spread to nearby communities. Overall, the fire torched 14,021 acres.
"SCE has not identified typical or obvious indications that would support this association, such as broken conductors, fresh arc marks in the preliminary original area, or evidence of faults on the energized lines running through the area," Edison International, SCE’s parent company wrote, in the Feb. 6 report.
"While we do not yet know what caused the Eaton wildfire, SCE is exploring every possibility in its investigation, including the possibility that SCE’s equipment was involved," said Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, in a released statement. "We have been fully engaged since the start of the fires in supporting the broader emergency response, containment, recovery and investigation efforts."
The report said there are three transmission towers – four active and one inactive-- that carry lines in the Eaton Fire zone. All of the lines are currently deenergized.
External videos are being used as part of the investigation, which Pizarro called "concerning."
The Los Angeles County Fire Department is the lead agency for the investigation. SCE said it anticipates the full investigation could take months.
"Our hearts go out to everyone who has suffered losses. We are working with the local communities SCE serves to rebuild and emerge stronger," said Pizarro. "We understand the community wants answers, and we remain committed to a thorough and transparent investigation."
Hurst Fire
The nearly 800-acre Hurst Fire first sparked on the evening of Jan. 7 around 10:30 p.m.
In the Feb. 6 report, SCE stated it "believes its equipment may be associated with the ignition of the Hurst Fire," while the official cause of the fire remains under investigation.
"Edison International and SCE have been part of this community for almost 140 years," said Pizarro. "As we work to rebuild, SCE’s ongoing investments in wildfire prevention and mitigation, including undergrounding and hardening the grid in high-risk areas will continue, and if necessary, be expanded."
Edison International has committed $1 million to wildfire relief efforts.