Authorities are looking into whether toppled Southern California Edison equipment caused the Hurst Fire in Sylmar, now that most of the approximately 800-acre fire has been contained.
The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire had already broken out elsewhere in Los Angeles County when the fire was initially reported in the 5900 block of Yarnell Street late Tuesday night at approximately 10:30 p.m.
It spread swiftly, covering over 100 acres in one hour. According to Cal Fire authorities, it burnt little under 800 acres at the latest and is nearly completely contained.
According to SCE officials on Friday, a preliminary examination found that at 10:11 p.m., shortly before the fire was reported, a relay, or a power glitch, occurred in a circuit in the Eagle Rock/Sylmar area. Additionally, they claim that a downed conductor was discovered close to an electrical tower. According to the company, it is unclear whether the damage happened before to or following the incident.
Following reports that the fire had begun, thousands of people were compelled to leave their houses; however, those orders have now been revoked. According to workers, the fire did not do any structural damage.
At the request of California Governor Gavin Newsom, FEMA awarded Fire Management Assistance Grants to the Hurst Fire, one of three large wildfires that started Tuesday, along with the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.
If a utility or power business in California has any reason to suspect that their equipment may have contributed to a fire, they are required to notify the state’s Public Utility Commission. Although corporate representatives acknowledged on Saturday that they had been contacted by some legal parties regarding the cause of the Eaton Fire, they asserted that their equipment was turned off when the fire was initially discovered.