Fire agencies to probe potential Southern California Edison link to Hurst Fire

Fire agencies are investigating whether electrical equipment sparked a blaze that scorched hundreds of acres near a northern Los Angeles suburb amid dangerous wind conditions, electric utility officials said Sunday.

Southern California Edison, a unit of Edison International and one of the largest electric utility companies in all of California, said Sunday that it filed two electric safety incident reports tied to the wildfires burning across Los Angeles County. Utilities are required to report incidents that meet certain criteria, such as receiving significant media attention or are under governmental investigation.

In a report issued last week, Southern California Edison said it filed an electric safety incident report after the company learned fire agencies were investigating whether electrical equipment was involved in the ignition of the Hurst Fire. A preliminary investigation revealed that one of the company's circuits experienced a relay at 10:11 p.m. local time on Tuesday, about a minute after the Hurst Fire was reported, according to the report.

A downed power line was also found at a tower associated with the circuit.

"Southern California Edison does not know whether the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire," the report said, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.

The Hurst Fire erupted near Sylmar, a suburban neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles. By Sunday night, the fire had scorched 799 acres and was 89% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The fire is one of six blazes that have erupted in the Los Angeles area since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction. Three of the six fires — including Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst — remained active on Sunday.

Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Adam Vangerpen confirmed a “unified investigation” involving various fire and law enforcement agencies is underway, the Los Angeles Times reported, but did not provide additional details.

As authorities actively investigate the cause of the fires, forecasters noted the blazes were fueled by dry vegetation, high winds ,and low humidity.

Here's how you can help: Wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles

Other electric safety incident report related to Eaton Fire

Southern California Edison also reported that it filed an electric safety incident report related to the Eaton Fire, which devastated much of Altadena, California, and was now burning mostly in the San Gabriel Mountains. The company said the report was filed on Thursday after the fire received "significant media attention and property damage exceeding $200,000."

The company added that it also received notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence in connection with the fire, but noted that no fire agencies have linked the utility's connection to the blaze.

"(Southern California Edison) conducted preliminary analysis of electrical circuit information for the four energized transmission lines in the Eaton Canyon area," the company said. "That analysis shows no interruptions or operational/electrical anomalies in the 12 hours prior to the fire’s reported start time until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire."

Electric utilities and wildfires

In a 2020 report, the California Public Utilities Commission said electric utility-related ignitions are "responsible for a disproportionate share of wildfire-related consequences." In recent years, electric utility companies across California have faced legal challenges due to their involvement with major wildfire incidents.

Southern California Edison agreed in 2021 to pay $550 million in penalties and fines related to the ignition of five wildfires, according to Reuters. The California Public Utilities Commission said the Rye, Meyers, Liberty, Thomas, and Woolsey fires burned more than 385,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures, and caused five deaths.

The Rye, Meyers, Liberty, and Thomas fires occurred in several parts of Southern California Edison's service territory in December 2017. In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire ignited in Ventura County.

The U.S. Department of Justice also announced in February 2024 that the company agreed to pay $80 million to resolve claims on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service to "recoup costs and damages associated with the 2017 Thomas Fire in the Los Padres National Forest."

In 2019, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. announced that it reached a $13.5 billion settlement with victims of Northern California wildfires that occurred between 2017 and 2018, including the Camp Fire — which devastated the town of Paradise, killing 85 people and destroying tens of thousands of structures.

Contributing: Charles Ventura, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fire agencies to investigate potential Edison link to LA Hurst fire