Energy giant Edison International is under investigation over a potential link to one of the wildfires currently devastating Los Angeles. Southern California Edison, a subsidiary of the company, admitted that its grid experienced a short circuit just after 10 pm on Tuesday when a tower collapsed - coinciding with the outbreak of the Hurst Fire.
The company found faulty electrical equipment at a transmission tower in Eagle Rock/Sylmar, which malfunctioned around the same time as the fire started. Over 60,000 Californians are still without power according to PoweroutageUS. The Hurst Fire, one of three fires still raging in California, is at 89 percent containment.
Amid new evacuation orders, the Palisades blaze has turned into a 'fire tornado' as flames expand east. Southern California Edison has admitted that the fallen electrical equipment 'coincided' with the Hurst Fire outbreak. However, it remains uncertain whether the power line fell before or after the fire started, and investigations are ongoing. As of Saturday afternoon, the Hurst Fire, which has devastated approximately 800 acres, was reported to be about 76 percent contained, reports the Mirror US.
Despite Edison's uncertainty about the timing of the fallen power line, Bob Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, another company that monitors electrical activity, told Fox News that the firm noticed a spike in faults hours before the Eaton, Palisades, and Hurst Fires. Marshall clarified that the data suggests power was not immediately disconnected as faults escalated.
