Southern California Edison under investigation for possible involvement in one of the California fires
Fire crews and authorities are investigating whether the Southern California Edison (SCE) electrical equipment, The American energy company may have been the cause of the Hurst fire, which has devastated almost 800 acres (more than 320 hectares) in Sylmar, California, since it began last Tuesday. A downed driver, found near the fire area, is under analysis, although the company says it is not yet known whether the observed damage occurred before or after the fire started.
The Hurst Fire started on Tuesday near Diamond Roadin the community of Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley. As of Monday morning, the fire had consumed 799 acres and was found 95% contentaccording to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Although evacuation orders have been lifted, more than 300 firefighters They continue working in the area, supported by firefighting aircraft that carry out attack missions from the air when conditions allow, according to data shared in the press conferences. According to the Cal Firecurrent tasks focus on reinforcing containment lines and protecting key structures in the area.
Authorities are conducting a joint investigation to determine whether the team Southern California Edison was involved in starting the fire. The company reported that it discovered a downed driver on an electrical tower of a circuit located near the site of the fire. In its report, SCE highlighted that they are not certain whether the damage occurred before or after the start of the flames and added that they are collaborating with authorities.
Captain Adam Vangerpen of the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed the existence of a unified research which includes fire and law enforcement agencies, although it did not offer more details, according to statements collected by Los Angeles Times. Additionally, a preliminary analysis by Whisker Labs revealed a significant increase in power grid failures near the Hurst, Eaton and Palisades fires during the hours before they started, in a period marked by strong Santa Ana winds.
Recent fires in Los Angeles County — including Hurst, Eaton and Palisades — have been marked by weather conditions conducive to their rapid spread. The Santa Ana winds, characteristic of this season, combined with dry vegetation and low humidityhave fanned the flames and made containment efforts difficult. According to authorities, these factors have caused the fires to spread rapidly, affecting both urban areas and mountainous areas.
California has a history of devastating fires caused by utility equipment. In 2021, Southern California Edison agreed to pay 550 million dollars in fines and penalties for their responsibility in the Thomas, Woolsey, Rye, Meyers and Liberty fires, which together destroyed thousands of structures and razed more than 380,000 acres (more than 150,000 hectares).
For its part, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. reached an agreement 13.5 billion dollars with victims of several fires in the north of the state between 2017 and 2018, including the Camp Firewhich destroyed the town of Paradise and left a balance of 85 people died, reported USA Today.
In the case of the Hurst fire, current investigations could lead to legal action and sanctions against SCE if its responsibility is confirmed. Furthermore, according to USA Todaythe company is already facing notifications from insurers’ lawyers to preserve evidence about the Eaton firewhich has consumed 14,100 acres (more than 5,600 hectares) in Altadena and its surroundings.
