Los Angeles County Fire officials have determined that equipment belonging to Southern California Edison (SCE) was the cause of the deadly 2025 Eaton Fire, which resulted in 19 fatalities and the destruction or damage of over 9,000 homes and businesses. The findings were detailed in a report released Tuesday.
According to the report, the fire was ignited by electrical arcing events originating from an SCE tower that was not in service. Fire officials stated that their conclusion, reached after an 18-month review of evidence with expert consultation, pointed to the de-energized tower as the source of the wildfire.
The Eaton Fire broke out on January 7, 2025, alongside another blaze, the Palisades Fire. It took firefighters nearly a month to fully extinguish the Eaton Fire, which scorched an area of 22 square miles. The Palisades Fire, which burned concurrently, became the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history and ranks among the top five worst wildfires in California. It claimed 12 lives and destroyed more than 6,800 structures.
In legal proceedings earlier this year, Southern California Edison had asserted that Los Angeles County agencies were slow to issue evacuation warnings to residents in east and west Altadena, areas where 18 of the 19 Eaton Fire victims resided. The utility company also claimed that water agencies, including Pasadena Water and Power, failed to provide adequate water supplies, thus hindering firefighting efforts. Los Angeles County has declined to comment on these legal claims.
The Eaton Fire significantly impacted the landscape and communities of Los Angeles County, with its extensive damage and tragic loss of life underscoring the challenges of wildfire suppression in the region.