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Southern California Edison says its equipment may have caused Hurst Fire
The Hurst fire burns in the hills above Sylmar, Calif. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.
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Myung J. Chun
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Southern California Edison “believes its equipment may be associated with the ignition of the Hurst Fire,” the utility wrote in a statement Thursday.
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Southern California Edison says its equipment may have caused Hurst Fire
Any utility or power company operating in California must file a notice with the state’s Public Utility Commission if there is reason to believe their equipment may have been the cause of a fire.
The Hurst Fire broke out late on Jan. 7 near Sylmar after the Palisades and Eaton fires had already started. The Hurst Fire burned about 800 acres and forced thousands of evacuations but didn’t damage or destroy homes or other buildings.
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A preliminary investigation by SCE found a glitch in the system just before the Hurst Fire started. They also reported that a downed conductor was found near an electrical tower.
In a separate statement about the Eaton Fire on Thursday, Southern California Edison maintained that no glitches or irregularities were documented in its equipment before that fire broke out, “such as broken conductors, fresh arc marks in the preliminary origin area, or evidence of faults on the energized lines running through that area.”
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Philanthropic funds helped purchase a burned lot that used to have 14 rental units. Supporters hope the project can be a model for rebuilding equitably for renters. -
Jonathan Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to arson, among other crimes related to the destructive and deadly January fire. -
More than 13 inches of rain fell in the Santa Ynez Mountains over the weekend. And another, colder storm is on the way.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the utility over its alleged role in the Eaton Fire.
“Information and data have come to light, such as videos from external parties of the [Eaton] fire’s early stages, suggesting a possible link to SCE’s equipment, which the company takes seriously,” the statement reads.
The investigations for the causes of the major L.A. fires that broke out last month and destroyed thousands of homes are ongoing.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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