A report in the Los Angeles Times indicates that it may have been Southern California Edison’s attempt to cut off power ahead of the Eaton Fire that actually started the deadly blaze.
Edison was warned three years ago “about the risk that a power shutdown would overload other transmission lines, potentially causing dangerous overheating and sparks,” the Times reports, citing public records obtained by the paper.
“Fixes that some experts said could have mitigated the risk were repeatedly delayed, the records show, with scheduled work never completed,” the Times explains.
When the Eaton Fire began on Jan. 7, the Times reports that Edison’s “lines over Eaton Canyon saw a momentary increase of electrical current about the same time as the fire began.”
Lawsuits have alleged that Edison is responsible for the blaze that killed 17 people, and officials are investigating that possible origin.
When speaking with the Times, Kathleen Dunleavy, an Edison spokeswoman, said the investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing, and “we don’t know what caused” it.
“We are exploring all possibilities, including the potential involvement of our equipment,” she said.
A report in the Los Angeles Times indicates that it may have been Southern California Edison’s attempt to cut off power ahead of the Eaton Fire that actually started the deadly blaze. Edison was warned three years ago “about the risk that a power shutdown would overload other transmission lines, potentially causing dangerous overheating and […]
Leave a Reply