Eaton Fire Investigation: Decommissioned Tower Eyed as Potential Cause
The devastating Eaton Fire, which ravaged parts of Los Angeles in January, may have originated from an unexpected source: a transmission tower that Southern California edison decommissioned in 1971. Wildfire lawyers with ‘LA Fire Justice’ revealed their findings Thursday, pointing to the long-dormant structure as the potential ignition point.
The Claim: A Dormant Tower Re-Energized?
The central question posed by LA Fire Justice revolves around how a deactivated power line could spark such a destructive blaze. So that leads to the obvious question. How does a deactivated line get energized such so it can ignite a fire that becomes a major conflagration such as the Eaton Fire which burned down your town?
the group stated.
Visual Reconstruction of the Alleged Ignition
To illustrate their theory, LA Fire Justice created a video rendering depicting the events they believe led to the fire.The video outlines a sequence of events:
- January 7th, 6:11 p.m.: A fault at one of Edison’s substations allegedly caused voltage surges across the grid.
- Tower Number Three: The rendering highlights a flash on Tower Number Three,described as an electric arcing event.
- Extreme Temperatures: The arcing could have caused the metal on the steel towers to reach temperatures as high as 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meltdown and Ignition: A second flash along a high-voltage line attached to Tower Number Three allegedly caused molten metal to fall, igniting the dry brush below.
- Fire Progression: The fire then spread downhill,impacting the Altadena area.
Did You Know?
Electric arcing can occur when electricity jumps between two points, generating intense heat. This is a common cause of wildfires, especially in dry, brush-filled areas.
Liability and Prevention
Wildfire lawyer mikal Watts argues that Southern california Edison could have prevented the fire by implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). This is a massive, massively expensive wildfire that Southern California Edison owes the bill for,
Watts stated.
Edison’s Response and Future Plans
Edison International President and CEO Pedro Pizarro addressed the situation earlier this month, telling the Los Angeles Times: We still don’t know weather Edison equipment caused the Eaton Fire. It’s certainly possible it did. I’ve pledged to be transparent with the public as we continue to investigate.
In response to growing concerns, Southern California Edison announced plans last week to bury more than 150 miles of power lines near Altadena and Malibu, according to The New york times.
The Devastation and Ongoing Investigation
According to Cal Fire, the Eaton Fire resulted in the deaths of 18 people, destroyed 9,414 structures, and scorched 14,021 acres.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Pro Tip
Residents in high-risk fire areas should maintain defensible space around their homes by clearing brush and vegetation. sign up for local emergency alerts to stay informed about potential threats.
Legal Precedent
In 2023, a federal judge dismissed criminal charges against pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) after its equipment sparked the Zogg Fire in Northern California, highlighting the complexities of assigning liability in wildfire cases.