Cause of Sesnon Fire Reveals Hole in Law

The downed power line that caused the 14,000 acre Sesnon Fire was owned by the Southern California Gas Co., who are not regulated by the state's Public Utilities Commission, at least when it comes to power line regulations, the LA Times finds: "Commission rules require power lines owned by electric utilities to be inspected regularly and to have brush under the lines cleared to prevent fires. But commission spokesman Tom Hall told The Times that the rules don't extend to nonelectric utilities on private land." Looks like it's time to change the law.