Edison tower caused deadly Eaton fire that devastated Altadena, long-awaited investigation finds

Key Points:

• A report by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Los Angeles County Fire Department confirms that out-of-service equipment managed by Southern California Edison (SoCal Edison) caused the Eaton fire in January 2025, which killed 19 people and destroyed much of Altadena.
• The investigation found electrical arcing events on an out-of-service SoCal Edison transmission tower ignited dry brush, leading to the wildfire that burned over 14,000 acres and destroyed more than 9,400 buildings.
• The report lists eight violations of state criminal and public utility codes linked to SoCal Edison, though details remain redacted due to an ongoing review by the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.
• SoCal Edison has acknowledged a potential role in starting the fire and offers a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program but denies full financial responsibility amid multiple lawsuits; the company is also suing L.A. County over delayed evacuation alerts.
• Legal representatives for L.A. County assert the report clearly attributes blame to SoCal Edison’s neglected equipment, criticizing the utility’s attempts to delay justice and shift blame despite evidence confirming its role in igniting the fire.