A California power company is probing equipment irregularities as a possible cause to the deadly Eaton Fire that erupted last month and destroyed thousands of homes.
Southern California Edison Company said video evidence appearing to show two flashes of light near Eaton Canyon led the utility corporation to examine whether its electrical system ignited the devastating blaze on Jan. 7, according to a filing with the California Public Utilities Commission.
The public utility company is also inspecting whether an inactive transmission line became energized near where the fire broke out.
SCE, a subsidiary of the $25 billion company Edison International, added in its report to state regulators that its investigation has not yet confirmed a link between its equipment and the fire.
“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,” Edison International president Pedro J. Pizarro said in a statement.
“We have been fully engaged since the start of the fires in supporting the broader emergency response, containment, recovery and investigation efforts.”
The Eaton Fire scorched more than 14,000 acres, destroyed nearly 10,000 homes, businesses, schools and other structures, and resulted in the deaths of 17 people in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County.
The fire was fully contained last week following a brutal three-week-long battle to extinguish the viscous flames fueled by one of the strongest Santa Ana wind events to blast the region in more than a decade.
The Eaton Fire, along with the powerful Palisades Fire, are now ranked as the worst wildfires in Southern California history.
In a separate filing Thursday, Edison told state regulators its equipment may have also sparked the Hurst Fire, which broke out the same day as the Eaton and Palisades fires in the Sylmar area.
Last month the power company said it was investigating its equipment after suggesting a downed power line may have triggered the fire – noting the damaged line was found in the area around the same time when the blaze is believed to have started.
The Hurst Fire tore through 800 acres along the outskirts of Santa Clarita, damaged two homes and was fully contained on Jan. 16, according to the filing. No deaths have been reported.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has suffered losses. We are working with the local communities SCE serves to rebuild and emerge stronger,” Pizarro added.
“We understand the community wants answers, and we remain committed to a thorough and transparent investigation.”
