LOS ANGELES —
Lawsuits were initiated on Monday asserting that utility equipment ignited one of the two devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles region. Residents of Pacific Palisades suspect that the second fire may have been reignited by hurricane-strength winds that disturbed the remnants of a fire from New Year’s Day, which had already been extinguished.
Authorities have yet to officially identify the causes of these fires, which surged to life the previous Tuesday, resulting in a tragic toll of at least 24 fatalities. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is spearheading the investigations into these incidents.
Numerous lawsuits targeting Southern California Edison allege that the company’s equipment was responsible for the dangerous Eaton Fire near Pasadena. Edison has acknowledged that fire officials are investigating if their equipment might have ignited a smaller fire around the same time in the Los Angeles area.
The Eaton Fire has wreaked havoc by destroying more than 7,000 homes and various structures, obliterating entire neighborhoods. Lawyers representing affected homeowners expressed their belief on Monday that Edison’s equipment was the cause of extensive damage. Video footage captured in the fire’s initial stages appears to show a significant fire occurring directly beneath electrical towers.
One of the lawsuits asserts, “There is clear evidence from video footage, photographs, and witness accounts that the fire was caused by electrical equipment operated by Defendants Edison International and Southern California Edison,” as indicated by the filing made on behalf of Evangeline Iglesias, a resident of Altadena.
Gabriela Ornelas, a spokesperson for Edison, acknowledged that they are aware of the lawsuit but have not yet reviewed its contents. “Our hearts remain with our communities during the devastating fires in Southern California, and we remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time,” she stated.
In a report filed with the California Public Utilities Commission concerning the Eaton Fire, Edison mentioned there has yet to be any evidence suggesting that its equipment ignited that blaze. The utility reported, “Preliminary analysis by SCE of electrical circuit information for the energized transmission lines going through the area for 12 hours prior to the reported start time of the fire shows no interruptions or electrical or operational anomalies until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire.”
Edison also submitted documentation regarding the Hurst Fire in the Sylmar neighborhood, which ignited on the same Tuesday. The report indicated that “a downed conductor was discovered at a tower” near the fire’s origin. However, the utility could not confirm whether the observed damage occurred before or after the fire commenced. This fire spread over more than a square mile (2.6 square kilometers) but is currently contained.
Additionally, residents are particularly concerned about a New Year’s Day fire that occurred in the same location as the January 7 fire, which has become the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles city.
When asked about speculation regarding the possibility of the remnants of the January 1 fire being rekindled, LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi commented that no possible cause has been excluded from investigation.
Shortly after midnight on January 1, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades area. The initial report indicated 3 to 4 acres (1.2 to 1.6 hectares) of dense brush were ablaze with winds reaching 15 mph (24 kph). Water-dropping helicopters and ground-based firefighters worked to control the blaze, which eventually expanded to 8 acres (3 hectares) but was reported as contained in under five hours, according to the department’s updates.
Residents believe that the wind-driven blaze that devastated their community ignited in the same area as the fire attributed to fireworks shot off just after midnight on New Year’s Day. The severe winds that day could have reignited lingering embers. However, officials have not explicitly connected the January 1 fire to fireworks.
Sue Pascoe, a resident who lost her home and manages a community news website, commented, “I still think it’s too coincidental that it would be in almost exactly the same spot. The fireworks went off that night. The firefighters were there.” She has been reporting on the connection to the New Year’s Day fire since the onset of the January 7 blaze.
The investigations may take several months to conclude, and with forecasts predicting strong winds again, the region is at risk of new fires that could complicate the cause determination.
ATF spokesperson Ginger Colbrun noted that it is premature to ascertain the cause of the fire in Pacific Palisades. She mentioned that investigators conducted an initial assessment of the area on Friday and started processing the scene on Monday.
Pacific Palisades resident Robert Trinkkeller described witnessing the fire on New Year’s Day, remarking that he observed aircraft dropping water onto it. When he saw the fire occur on January 7, he immediately felt a connection.
“In my opinion, it was a rekindling of the six-day old fire,” he reflected, “It’s the exact same place.”