A report by the Los Angeles Times suggests that Southern California Edison (SCE) may have intentionally cut off power before the Eaton Fire, which killed 17 people. The utility company had been warned three years ago about the risk of power shutdowns causing transmission line overheating and sparks.
Experts claim that simple fixes to mitigate this risk were repeatedly delayed and never completed. When the fire began on January 7, SCE’s lines near Eaton Canyon showed a sudden surge in electrical current around the same time as the blaze started.
Lawsuits have accused Edison of being responsible for the deadly fire, and officials are investigating its possible origin. SCE spokeswoman Kathleen Dunleavy said that the investigation is ongoing and the company is exploring all possibilities, including the potential involvement of their equipment.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/did-cutting-power-actually-start-the-eaton-fire