California Wildfires Destroy Over 10,000 Structures, Cause Under Investigation

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Investigators are examining multiple potential causes for the devastating wildfires that have destroyed more than 10,000 homes and structures across a densely populated area north of downtown Los Angeles. The fires, which began on Tuesday, have ravaged a 25-mile (40-kilometer) expanse, with no official cause yet identified for the largest blazes.

In Pacific Palisades, an upscale neighborhood home to celebrities like Jamie Lee Curtis and Billy Crystal, officials traced the origin of one fire to a property on Piedra Morada Drive, located above a heavily wooded arroyo. While lightning is a common cause of wildfires in the U.S., investigators quickly ruled it out in this case, as there were no reports of lightning in the area. The focus has shifted to other potential causes, including arson and utility lines.

John Lentini, a fire investigation expert from Scientific Fire Analysis in Florida, emphasized that the size of the fire does not change the investigative approach. “This was once a small fire,” Lentini said. “People will focus on where the fire started, determine the origin, and look around the origin to determine the cause.”

Southern California Edison, the utility company serving the area, filed a report with the California Public Utilities Commission regarding the Eaton Fire near Pasadena. The company stated it found no evidence linking its equipment to the fire but submitted the report out of caution after receiving evidence preservation notices from insurance lawyers. “Preliminary analysis shows no interruptions or anomalies in the electrical circuits prior to the fire’s start,” the utility reported.

The 2020 Bobcat Fire, one of California’s largest, was caused by Southern California Edison power lines, resulting in two deaths and the destruction of over 440 square miles (1,140 square kilometers). While utility lines remain a concern, investigators have not yet confirmed their involvement in the current fires.

As of Friday, the Eaton and Palisades fires continued to burn with minimal containment. Winds have eased, but dry conditions persist, with no rain in the forecast. “It’s going to go out when it runs out of fuel or when the weather stops,” Lentini said. “They’re not going to put that thing out until it’s ready to go out.”