Eaton Fire was caused by SoCal Edison electrical tower, LA County Fire Department says

Key Points:

• The 2025 Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people and damaged over 9,000 properties, was caused by electrical arcing on an out-of-service Southern California Edison (SCE) tower, according to a report by Los Angeles County Fire officials.
• The fire ignited during extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, and took nearly a month to fully contain after burning 22 square miles.
• Southern California Edison acknowledged its equipment was likely involved in starting the fire and is reviewing the investigation report while continuing to support community recovery efforts.
• SCE has filed lawsuits claiming local agencies failed to issue timely evacuation warnings and that water shortages hindered firefighting efforts during the blaze.
• The Eaton Fire occurred simultaneously with the Palisades Fire, another devastating wildfire in Los Angeles, with the accused arsonist in the Palisades case facing a retrial this fall after a mistrial.