Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell stated that the winds in Eaton Canyon on January 7 were not strong enough to justify shutting off power lines, despite the deadly Eaton Fire that followed. According to Powell, the company typically considers de-energizing transmission lines when winds reach between 60 and 80 miles per hour. However, the National Weather Service recorded gusts of 59 miles per hour at the time the fire started, just below the threshold.
The Eaton Fire, which began in Altadena, California, has claimed at least 16 lives and destroyed over 7,000 structures. Residents captured footage of flames erupting from a transmission tower, which is now under investigation as a potential ignition source. Despite these reports, Powell emphasized that Edison’s data showed no abnormalities in the hours leading up to the fire.
The fire has led to multiple lawsuits against Edison, including a wrongful death suit filed by the family of Evelyn McClendon, a victim of the blaze. The lawsuits allege that Edison failed to turn off power despite warnings of dangerous fire conditions.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. As the investigation continues, Edison is focused on restoring power to affected areas, with some regions expected to regain electricity within days, while others may take weeks or months.
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