By Mary O’KEEFE

On Tuesday, the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. released the official investigation regarding the cause of the January 2025 Eaton Fire. Their conclusion led investigators to find that Southern California Edison was the cause. 

Specifically, investigators found “two electrical arcing events that occurred in quick succession leading to an unknown burning material falling from the SCE [Southern California Edison]  tower’s location into the dry receptive fuel bed below,” according to the report from Cal Fire. 

Further, the investigation determined the fuel bed ignited about 12 seconds after the burning material was seen falling from the arcing below. It was found the electrical arcing took place on the out-of-service SCE tower. 

“[Tuesday’s] findings from the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. confirm that out-of-service equipment managed by Southern California Edison sparked the Eaton Fire. This official determination is an important step toward accountability and justice for the survivors, their families and our communities who have endured unimaginable loss over the past 19 months. Southern California Edison must take every step necessary to help Altadena and Pasadena rebuild, and to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again,” stated Representative Judy Chu. “While [Tuesday’s] findings bring long-awaited clarity, they do not change the reality facing thousands of families who are still struggling to rebuild. Nineteen months later, two out of every three Eaton and Palisades survivors still have not returned home. That is why it is so important that President Trump and congressional Republicans immediately fulfill Governor Newsom’s disaster supplemental funding request in full – and with no strings attached – so survivors can finally complete the long road to recovery. The Senate must also immediately pass the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act so survivors are not taxed on the settlements they receive from Southern California Edison as they rebuild their homes and lives.”

Assemblymember John Harabedian, who represents Altadena, also released a statement regarding the report. 

“I want to thank the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. investigators, first responders and all who worked tirelessly to complete this investigation and provide the Altadena community with answers. Transparency after a tragedy of this magnitude requires a collective effort, and every person and agency involved plays an important role in making that possible. The Los Angeles County Fire Dept.’s Eaton Fire investigation report provides critical findings on the origin and cause of the fire, including the role of a Southern California Edison transmission tower. Southern California Edison must take responsibility for its role and fully cooperate with all ongoing reviews and investigations. But this report is one part of a broader effort to understand what happened and what must change going forward,” he stated. 

CalFire and LA County Fire worked together for 18 months going over the evidence and worked with professionals in the electrical and metallurgical areas. 

To read the report, visit https://tinyurl.com/54xm6n9n.

There are several areas of the report that has been redacted: reports are redacted because the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has an ongoing review of the evidence from this fire, according to LACoFD.