Southern California Edison has reported a fault on a power line connected miles away from the origin of the Eaton Fire, a deadly blaze that started outside of Los Angeles on Jan. 7, claiming the lives of at least 17 individuals. The utility has emphasized that there is currently no evidence linking its equipment to the ignition of the fire, which has resulted in the destruction of over 9,000 structures in and around Altadena.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing. This recent development coincides with a court hearing in a case filed by attorneys representing a homeowner whose property was destroyed in the fire. The attorneys allege that the utility's equipment may have sparked the fire, citing video evidence showing flames beneath electrical towers during the fire's early stages.
Newly introduced video footage allegedly depicts arcing and electrical sparking on a transmission tower in Eaton Canyon just before the fire rapidly spread due to strong winds. The fire, along with another massive blaze that erupted on the same day, has resulted in the loss of at least 28 lives, with firefighters working tirelessly to contain the blazes.
In its latest filing, Southern California Edison disclosed that the fault occurred at 6:11 p.m. Although the affected lines do not pass through Eaton Canyon, they are interconnected with the system that experienced a surge during the incident. The utility stated that the current increase remained within operational limits and did not trigger system protection on the lines in the fire area.
Attorneys for a resident in Altadena argue that the fault and the gas station video provide compelling evidence implicating SCE's equipment in Eaton Canyon as the potential source of the fire's ignition. Residents have also captured images of flames beneath Edison's electrical towers in the area during the fire's initial moments.
While Edison's spokesperson emphasized that the cause of the Eaton Fire remains unknown, the company is actively investigating the incident and remains committed to transparency. Concerns have been raised about the preservation of evidence, with a judge ordering Edison to retain potential clues to the fire's origin.
Edison has assured that evidence in the fire's origin area is being preserved as efforts continue to restore power to homes in Altadena. The utility had previously reported no indications of its equipment involvement in the fire's ignition based on preliminary analysis of electrical circuit information.
