Los Angeles Hurst Fire May Have Been Caused by SoCal Edison Equipment

SoCal Edison admits in letters to the state’s Public Utilities Commission that the Hurst Fire may have ignited due to its equipment, but causes of the more deadly Eaton blaze remain a mystery.

In a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission, Southern California Edison now acknowledges that one of its towers may have caused the Hurst Fire, which burned approximately 800 acres and damaged two homes.

Southern California Edison (SCE) is one of the largest electric utility companies in the state of California, providing power to millions across densely populated regions like Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as some rural communities.

However, following the devastating fires that ravaged the region since early January, the company now faces serious questions about the role it played in starting the blazes.

Multiple Los Angeles wildfire lawsuits have been filed over the past month, with several claiming that the deadly Eaton Fire may have been caused by electrical sparks from Southern California Edison’s power lines in the Eaton Valley, which ignited nearby vegetation. As a result of the Eaton fire, approximately 14,000 acres in Los Angeles County have been burned, destroying more than 9,000 homes and buildings, and resulting in at least 17 deaths.

In a letter (PDF) to the state’s Public Utilities Commission, SoCal Edison stated that it believes the smaller Hurst Fire was likely caused by failures in the company’s equipment.

According to the letter, the Los Angeles Fire Department has reported that the Hurst Fire originated in an area north of Saddle Ridge Road in Los Angeles County, where SoCal Edison has a transmission tower. This tower appears to have suffered from an incident at 10:11 p.m. on January 7, which is the same approximate date and time as the reported start of the Hurst Fire.

“The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and SCE will continue to cooperate with fire investigators,” SoCal Edison said. “Absent additional evidence, SCE believes its equipment may be associated with the ignition of the Hurst Fire.”

Although the utilities provider appears to be admitting that the Hurst Fire may have been caused by its equipment, a separate letter (PDF) sent to the California Public Utilities Commission on the same day, maintains that SoCal Edison is still investigating the causes of the much larger Eaton Fire.

“Preliminary analysis of electrical data for the four energized transmission lines that run through Eaton Canyon for 12 hours prior to the reported start time of the fire shows that there were no faults on those lines until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire,” SoCal Edison said with regard to that fire.

Los Angeles Fire Homeowner Lawsuits

Despite the utility company’s uncertainty regarding the cause of the Eaton Fire, lawyers are actively investigating lawsuits on behalf of Los Angeles-area residents who lost their homes or suffered damages caused by the recent fires.

Homeowners, business owners and families of the deceased are pursuing compensation for property losses, business disruptions, personal suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages to hold SoCal Edison and other parties accountable for the ignition of the fires and the inadequate response to them, which contributed to significant devastation and loss of life throughout the region.

Individuals whose homes were lost or who suffered damages due to the Los Angeles wildfires, can submit their information for a free case review to determine whether they qualify for financial compensation.

LA wildfire lawyers offer free consultations and case evaluations. There are no upfront fees, and individuals will only pay if a recovery is obtained in their case.