Electrical sparks from an out-of-service transmission tower owned by Southern California Edison caused the 2025 Eaton Fire that killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of homes near Los Angeles, according to a report released Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Cal Fire. The investigation determined that electrical arcing ejected hot metal particles into dry vegetation below the towers, with two quick-succession arcing events sending unknown burning material that ignited the brush in 12 seconds. Southern California Edison, a subsidiary of Edison International, has already taken responsibility and has offered more than 775 million dollars through its Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, which has received over 4,000 claims. The findings could still expose the utility to billions of dollars in additional liability claims.
Edison InternationalInvestigation finds utility's equipment caused deadly fire, exposing it to billions in liability.
