Hours before the Eaton fire, distribution lines failed and fire started in Altadena

"Almost nine months have passed since the Eaton fire blazed through neighborhoods of Los Angeles County in January, destroying more than 9,000 buildings and causing an estimated billions of dollars in damages. Since then, dozens of lawsuits, including two filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, have blamed high power transmission lines managed by the utility company, Southern California Edison, for starting the flames."

"SoCal Edison acknowledges that its transmission equipment could have been associated with the ignition of a fire that started just after 6 p.m. on Jan. 7, when sparks were spotted near high power lines in Eaton Canyon, in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. By the end of January, when the fire was finally contained, Altadena was one of the neighborhoods most damaged."

Almost nine months after the January Eaton fire, more than 9,000 buildings were destroyed and damages are estimated in the billions. Dozens of lawsuits, including two by the U.S. Department of Justice, have blamed high-voltage transmission lines managed by Southern California Edison for ignitions. SoCal Edison acknowledges its transmission equipment could have been associated with a blaze that began just after 6 p.m. on Jan. 7 near Eaton Canyon. Altadena suffered heavy damage and most of the 19 deaths occurred there. Satellite imagery shows the Eaton fire front did not reach western Altadena until after 5 a.m. the next day. Distribution lines in Altadena malfunctioned as early as 11 a.m., with at least one fire linked to a distribution-line problem starting hours before the Eaton Canyon sparks. Firefighters responded across Altadena that morning and afternoon. The utility did not turn the power off.

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