Fire agencies are racing to find out if Southern California Edison’s (SCE) equipment caused a raging brush fire in a Los Angeles suburb. SCE, a part of Edison International, confirmed the investigation on Friday. No conclusions have been made yet, the utility added.
Possible equipment involvement
SCE revealed in a regulatory filing that its Eagle Rock-Sylmar 220 kV circuit may be involved. Crews discovered a downed conductor near a tower on this circuit. However, SCE remains unsure if the damage happened before or after the fire ignited. The utility stated, “SCE does not know whether the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire.”
Timeline of the incident
Preliminary reports show the circuit experienced a relay at 10:11 p.m. on January 7. That’s just one minute after the Hurst Fire was reported in Sylmar, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles.
Current status of the Hurst Fire
The Hurst Fire scorched over 770 acres. Firefighters contained 77% of the blaze, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Edison International declined to comment publicly on the situation.
Meanwhile, SCE has received requests from insurance companies to preserve evidence linked to another blaze, the Eaton Fire, which is still active in Los Angeles. Despite this, fire agencies have not officially tied the utility to either fire.
The devastation is widespread. Over 10,000 structures have been destroyed in the area. Nearly 30,000 acres have burned. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimates the damage and economic loss at a staggering $135 billion to $150 billion. Homeowners face a tough recovery, with rising insurance costs looming.
Southern California Edison’s role remains unclear. Investigators are examining every detail. The utility’s response and transparency will be critical as the probe continues.
