Southern California Edison (SCE) is investigating a “zombie” power line as a potential cause of the Eaton Fire, which claimed 17 lives, burned 14,000 acres, and damaged over 10,000 structures. Initially, SCE denied any fault, but new evidence has prompted further examination.
A “zombie” power line is one that is no longer energized. However, surveillance footage from an Arco gas station on January 7 captured electrical arcs and sparks from the line, which then ignited nearby brush on the Altadena hillside. According to KTLA, investigators believe the line may have been re-energized.
SCE and law firms representing fire victims are gathering evidence and inspecting the equipment in Eaton Canyon. SCE spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy stated, “We’re using drones to capture high-quality photos of towers in Eaton Canyon as well as climbing them and doing lab and engineering analysis.”
The New York Post reports that the idle line had been inactive since 1971 but may have been affected by electromagnetic charges from active lines. Damage to grounding equipment may have led to arcing, as explained by attorney Mikal Watts, who has filed a class-action lawsuit against SCE.
Victims, including Jeremy Gursey, are pursuing legal action, with Los Angeles County also filing a lawsuit. Gursey remarked, “There’s no doubt that SCE is responsible.”
The investigation is ongoing, with no timeline for completion. SCE continues to face scrutiny as they work to determine the exact cause of the fire.
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