California utility says equipment likely sparked Hurst Fire

A California utility company said its equipment may have sparked a Los Angeles wildfire on the same day that two additional blazes ravaged the state and killed at least 29 individuals, according to The Associated Press.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is investigating Southern California Edison (SCE) for a utility fire that may have caused the Hurst Fire, which did not destroy any property or bring about any deaths. 

The company admitted “absent additional evidence, SCE believes its equipment may be associated with ignition of the Hurst Fire” in state utility regulator filings obtained by the AP.

A separate filing alleges the company’s electrical equipment may have also sparked the Eaton Fire, which devastated the Altadena community, citing video footage that captured “flashes” of electrical arcing at the time the flames first erupted. 

“SCE does not know when this damage occurred and a comparison between pre- and post-fire photographs is underway,” the filing said.

However, the California company is awaiting a full investigation before shouldering the blame. 

“SCE has not identified typical or obvious indications that would support this association, such as broken conductors, fresh arc marks in the preliminary origin area, or evidence of faults on the energized lines running through that area,” the utility said in a news release announcing its filings, according to the AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.