A surge in electrical current near Eaton Canyon power lines before the deadly Eaton fire raises questions about Southern California Edison's equipment.
Four Southern California Edison power lines situated above Eaton Canyon exhibited a transient surge in electrical current around the same time the destructive Eaton fire is believed to have originated on January 7th, according to a filing submitted by the utility company to state regulators on Monday. The incident, as detailed in the filing, transpired following a fault in Edison's Eagle-Rock-Gould line, located approximately five miles from the suspected fire ignition point.
This fault sent the current surge across the company's transmission network. Edison officials stated in the filing that the current increase 'remained within the design limits and operating criteria for these circuits and, as intended, did not trigger system protection on these lines.' However, this equipment, positioned five miles away from the suspected start of the devastating blaze, is now encompassed within an expanded court order mandating Southern California Edison to preserve data and equipment that could potentially illuminate the exact cause of the fire.An agreement reached Monday between attorneys representing the utility company and attorneys from Edelson PC, a firm representing an Altadena woman who lost her home in the fires, stipulates that this equipment will be retained for at least 21 days to facilitate examination. 'It's not a coincidence,' asserted Ali Moghaddas, an attorney with Edelson PC, regarding the temporal proximity between the reported fault and the Eaton fire's commencement. 'That six mile stretch from the point of origin to the fault, that will remain untouched for 21 days.' During Monday's court proceedings, Edison attorneys initially opposed the expansion of a temporary restraining order, which instructed the company to preserve data and equipment pertaining to the blaze around the suspected origin point and a 1-square mile area in eastern Altadena. Following a brief recess, attorneys for Edison returned with a proposal to also preserve for 21 days the equipment connected to this fault. Kathleen Dunleavy, a spokesperson for Edison, stated that the company's preliminary investigation revealed no faults or damage to the transmission lines in the Eaton Canyon area. She added that the company has continued to inspect their equipment, including more distant lines interconnected with the Eaton Canyon system, where they discovered the January 7th fault that occurred at approximately 6:11 p.m. 'However, the impact on the canyon was well within the standard parameters,' Dunleavy said. 'This is part of our investigation process.' According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL FIRE, the initial reports of the fire came in at 6:18 p.m. When asked if such an incident could cause arcing or sparks in the system five miles away, Dunleavy stated that incidents like that are commonplace and can be observed in the company's electric grid. 'We filed the update as part of our commitment to transparency,' she said. The new court order and report from Southern California Edison coincide with the utility giant facing increased scrutiny over the potential role of its equipment in igniting a fire that has scorched over 14,000 acres, ravaged more than 9,400 structures, and tragically claimed 17 lives. It also follows the release of a new video by Edelson PC, one of the firms suing the company, which appears to depict flashes emanating from a Southern California Edison tower, possible arcing and sparks, mere moments before the hillside ignites, and the fire rapidly spreads across the canyon towards homes. Residents residing near Eaton Canyon electrical towers have shared videos in the past week showcasing the early flames consuming the base of one of the towers. However, the video released Sunday seemingly displayed signs of flashes in the darkened hillside where the towers are situated. Moments later, the fire appears to commence burning
Eaton Fire Southern California Edison Power Lines Fault Investigation Court Order
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