Fire agencies are investigating whether downed Southern California Edison utility equipment was involved in igniting the Hurst Fire near Sylmar, company officials said.
The company reported Friday that a fallen conductor was found in a tower near the fire, but “it is unknown whether the damage observed occurred before or after the fire.”
The company said “fire agencies are investigating whether SCE equipment was involved in igniting the fire” and that the investigation is ongoing. Utility companies are required to report whenever a government entity investigates whether their equipment caused a wildfire.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Adam Vangerpen confirmed that a “unified investigation” involving various fire and law enforcement agencies was ongoing, but further details were not immediately available Sunday.
The Hurst Fire, which started Tuesday near Diamond Road in Sylmar, has burned nearly 800 acres, according to the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cal Fire said that as of Sunday, 89% of incidents were under control and evacuation orders had been lifted, but firefighting efforts continued with a focus on “building and improving containment lines with a focus on public safety and structural protection.”
Cal Fire said that 300 personnel were still dispatched to the fire, and aerial tankers were also deployed to fight the fire “when conditions permit.”
SCE previously said Thursday that it had received notice from attorneys representing insurance companies requesting that evidence be preserved regarding the Eaton Fire, which has burned more than 14,100 acres and devastated Altadena. As of Sunday morning, the fire was 27% contained, according to Cal Fire.
An independent analysis shared with The Times shows that in the hours leading up to the fires, when strong winds were blowing in Santa Ana, three major fires in Los Angeles County — the Hurst, Eaton and Palisades fires — Nearby grid failures increased significantly.
Sparks can result from malfunctions caused by damaged or collapsed power lines or other equipment. Bob Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, which provided the data, said he could not determine whether a faulty spark caused the recent fires.
Utilities have long been blamed for wildfires, including in California, and have been fined and sued for billions of dollars.
In 2021, SCE agreed to pay $550 million in fines and penalties related to the Thomas, Woolsey, Rye, Meyers and Liberty fires, which together burned more than 380,000 acres and destroyed thousands of homes.
In 2019, PG&E agreed to pay $13.5 billion to victims of multiple Northern California wildfires that killed dozens and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, including one in Wine Country in 2017. Township and the 2018 wildfire in Paradise Township.
