Eaton Fire linked to Southern California Edison tower

Electrical arcing on an out-of-service Southern California Edison transmission tower sparked the deadly Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County fire officials concluded in a report released Tuesday after an 18-month investigation.

The blaze, which began Jan. 7, 2025, killed 19 people and destroyed or damaged more than 9,000 homes and businesses, primarily in Altadena and also in nearby Pasadena. Fire officials said the arcing events sent hot metal particles or burning material from the tower into dry vegetation below, igniting brush on a ridge above the Eaton Wash.

“After 18 months of thorough review of all evidence, alongside retained electrical and metallurgical experts, the investigation concluded that the cause of the wildfire conflagration was due to the electrical arcing events that took place on the out-of-service Southern California Edison (SCE) tower,” Los Angeles County fire officials said in a statement.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Arson Fire Investigation Unit and Cal Fire. Investigators reviewed Southern California Edison electrical utility and mechanical systems, as well as photographic and video evidence. The report said the utility was responsible for maintaining and operating its electrical lines and equipment “in a manner that would minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by them.”

Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said the finding would not undo the damage suffered by residents.

“I recognize that no report or investigation into the Eaton Fire can ease the deep pain and tragedy our residents have endured,” Marrone said. “While the cause has been determined, our focus remains on assisting our residents to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, and ensuring lessons learned drive meaningful and impactful change in memory of the 19 lives lost.”

The fire started during extreme conditions that included high temperatures, low humidity and powerful winds, according to the report cited by The Guardian. Two electrical arcing events occurred in quick succession. Within 12 seconds, dry grass and brush caught fire, and the flames rapidly grew into a conflagration affecting the San Gabriel Mountains, Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and La Cañada Flintridge.

The report also cites a Pasadena resident who called 911 after seeing flames from a rear window. The caller described “a 10in x 10in fire at the base of a high-voltage electrical tower,” according to The Guardian.

The blaze scorched 22 square miles, or 57 square kilometers. The Guardian reported it took more than two weeks to fully contain the wildfire and nearly a month to extinguish it.

Southern California Edison spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy said the utility had received the report and was reviewing it.

“We have taken our potential role in the start of this fire seriously from the very beginning,” Dunleavy said, adding that SCE had previously acknowledged “it was likely our equipment was associated with the ignition of the Eaton fire.” She said the company continues to support the community as it recovers.

CBS News reported that Southern California Edison last month announced it had paid more than $314 million to victims through its Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program.

The Guardian reported that SoCal Edison has claimed in lawsuits this year that Los Angeles County agencies failed to issue timely evacuation warnings to residents in east and west Altadena, where 18 of the 19 people who died lived in west Altadena. The utility also has claimed water agencies, including Pasadena Water and Power, did not provide enough water as the fire spread, leaving firefighters with limited resources. Los Angeles County declined to comment on the latest court filings, The Guardian reported.