Firefighters to investigate Edison capacity linked to LA Hurst fire By Reuters

(Reuters) – Fire officials are investigating whether equipment at Southern California Edison’s utilities caused a brush fire burning in downtown Los Angeles, SCE said on Friday, adding that there was no determination yet. done.

SCE, the utility unit of US Edison International (NYSE:), said in a filing with its regulators that a downed conductor was found in a tower associated with its Eagle Rock – Sylmar 220 kV circuit.

“SCE does not know whether the damage seen occurred before or after the start of the fire,” the agency said.

SCE said that preliminary information indicates that the circuit had a transmission at 10:11 pm (0611 GMT) while the Hurst fire was reported at 10:10 pm on January 7.

The Hurst Fire, located in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, has burned through 770 acres and is now 77 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Edison International did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through the company’s website.

SCE on Thursday said that it has received notices from insurance companies to preserve related evidence Eaton (NYSE:) A fire is still burning in Los Angeles, but it said no fire agencies have been linked to the utility’s connection to the fire.

More than 10,000 structures have been destroyed by the five fires burning in the area and nearly 30,000 hectares have been burned.

Private analyst AccuWeather has estimated damages and economic losses at $135 billion to $150 billion, reflecting a difficult recovery and rising costs of homeowner’s insurance.