The $25 billion energy company Edison International faces scrutiny amid devastating wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.
According to Daily Mail, the company discovered a downed conductor at a tower near where the Hurst Fire ignited on Tuesday evening, though they have not determined if the damage occurred before or after the fire started.
The investigation comes as Edison International's market value has plummeted by $5.73 billion in the past week, dropping from $30.89 billion to $25.16 billion. The company's preliminary findings revealed the damaged conductor was located at the Eagle Rock Sylmar 220 kV circuit.
Whisker Labs CEO Bob Marshall, whose company monitors electrical activity, reported concerning spikes in power grid faults leading up to the fires. The data showed numerous faults that weren't immediately addressed, potentially caused by tree limbs touching wires or wind-blown electrical lines making contact.
In the Pacific Palisades area, 63 electrical faults were recorded in the hours leading up to the fire, with 18 occurring within the final hour before it started. The Eaton Fire area reported 317 grid faults prior to ignition, while the Hurst Fire location documented around 230 faults.
Marshall emphasized that these numbers were significantly higher than normal daily readings, pointing out that each fault has the potential to generate a spark, which is closely monitored.
The Hurst Fire in San Fernando has burned through nearly 800 acres and was 89 percent contained by Sunday afternoon. However, it represents just one of three major active fires threatening the region.
The Eaton Fire has consumed over 14,000 acres north of Pasadena and remains only 27 percent contained. Meanwhile, the Palisades Fire has destroyed almost 24,000 acres and is at just 11 percent containment.
The combined fires have claimed at least 16 lives while destroying an estimated 12,300 structures across 29,000 acres. The economic impact has reached approximately $57 billion, forcing 180,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
Weather officials have extended red flag warnings through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50mph and mountain gusts reaching 70 mph. Weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson warned that Tuesday would bring the most dangerous conditions.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone announced the arrival of 70 additional water trucks to combat the flames. However, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley emphasized the extreme danger in affected areas, stating:
There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public. There's no power, there's no water, there's broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures.
Edison International faces mounting pressure as investigators examine their potential role in sparking the Hurst Fire through electrical equipment failure. The discovery of the downed conductor near the fire's origin point has drawn particular attention from authorities seeking to determine the cause of one of the most destructive wildfire clusters in U.S. history.
As Los Angeles continues to battle these devastating blazes, the investigation's outcome could have significant implications for both the energy company and future wildfire prevention efforts in the region.
