LOS ANGELES — Investigators are exploring various potential ignition sources behind the devastating fires that have resulted in at least 24 fatalities and the destruction of countless properties in the Los Angeles area.
In the affluent community of Pacific Palisades, where celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Billy Crystal have lost their homes, officials have pinpointed the fire’s origin to a location on Piedra Morada Drive, positioned above a heavily wooded area.
Typically, lightning is recognized as a primary cause of wildfires in the United States, as reported by the National Fire Protection Association. However, investigators quickly dismissed this possibility, noting that there were no lightning reports in the vicinity of the Eaton Fire or the Palisades area, where the blaze erupted in east Los Angeles County, subsequently destroying numerous homes.
The next most frequent causes of fires include arson and incidents involving utility lines.
John Lentini, who leads Scientific Fire Analysis in Florida and has investigated significant fires in California, including the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, explained that regardless of the fire’s size, the methodology for determining its cause remains consistent. “This was once a small fire,” he noted, indicating that the focus would be on locating the point of origin and assessing the surrounding area to discern the cause.
As of now, there has been no formal evidence indicating arson as a factor in either fire, and the role of utility lines remains unconfirmed.
Utility companies must notify the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) of any “electric incidents potentially associated with a wildfire,” according to Terrie Prosper, the commission’s communications director. Following this, CPUC staff carry out investigations to determine compliance with state regulations.
The Thomas Fire in 2017, one of California’s largest wildfires, was determined to have been ignited by power lines operated by Southern California Edison that touched during strong winds, resulting in two fatalities and the burning of over 440 square miles.
Recently, Southern California Edison submitted a report to the CPUC in connection with the Eaton Fire located near Pasadena, an area served by the utility. While Edison stated it had not been made aware of any potential involvement of its equipment in igniting the fire, it opted to file the report with state regulators as a precautionary measure after receiving notices from insurance attorneys regarding evidence preservation.
Preliminary evaluations by Edison of electrical circuit data from the energized transmission lines in the area revealed no abnormalities or interruptions within the twelve hours leading up to the fire’s reported onset, suggesting normal operations until over an hour after the fire began.
Although lightning strikes, arson, and utility lines are often seen as predominant causes of wildfires, other factors like debris burning and fireworks can also lead to such incidents. Many fires can result from various accidents.
For instance, in 2021, a couple’s gender reveal event unintentionally triggered a large fire that consumed approximately 36 square miles of land, caused the destruction of five homes and multiple structures, and claimed the life of firefighter Charlie Morton.
As of Friday, both the Eaton and Palisades fires continued to burn with little containment. Although winds had eased, no precipitation was predicted, allowing the flames to spread across arid landscapes.
“It will likely extinguish itself once it exhausts its fuel source, or if weather conditions shift,” Lentini remarked. “They won’t be able to fully control the fire until it is ready to die down.”
