Edison International Provides Update on Ongoing Investigation into Eaton Fire Origin
Company will Begin Next Phase of Physical Inspections and Testing of Electrical Equipment in Eaton Canyon; Determination of Cause is Not Expected
Inspection Protocols were Developed through Collaborative Process with Input from Interested Stakeholders
ROSEMEAD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Edison International’s subsidiary, Southern California Edison, will begin the next phase of physical and video inspections and testing of electrical equipment in Eaton Canyon on March 17. This phase of testing will continue for several weeks in the field, followed by lab and engineering analysis.
This next step in the investigation will be SCE’s first close-up physical inspection since the start of the Eaton Fire. It is being conducted in close coordination with fire investigators, Los Angeles County, the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre and plaintiffs’ counsel, each of whom can have representatives present at the examination sites. The protocol for the upcoming inspections has been developed through a collaborative process with input from interested stakeholders, in line with SCE’s commitment to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation.
SCE conducted drone and on-site visual inspections from helicopters and the ground once it was safe to do so following the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. The next phase of inspections of the Eaton Canyon SCE equipment (subject to weather conditions) will include:
- Climbing Examinations: SCE crews will climb each tower to conduct detailed, in-person inspections and close-up photography of the equipment.
- Resistance, Soil Resistivity and Current Injection Testing: SCE will perform resistance and current injection testing to assess connection conductivity and resistance to ground.
- Additional Drone Inspections: Aerial inspections using drones will allow for a detailed visual assessment and photography of the active and idle electrical towers, power lines and other equipment in the area. Building on the drone inspections SCE has done previously, these inspections will be conducted in close cooperation with other stakeholders as part of a coordinated effort and shared with all parties.
SCE does not anticipate having an immediate update following the upcoming inspection and testing and continues to expect the full investigation to take several months to complete. Following the conclusion of this phase of testing, SCE will conduct a comprehensive review of the data collected (in coordination with third-party experts) and will move forward as quickly as possible in analyzing results.
SCE’s Restore and Rebuild Efforts
In responding to the windstorms and emergencies created by the Eaton and Palisades fires, SCE crews have been working to rebuild the electrical system with a mission of building back stronger and more resilient. SCE teams have, in total:
- Set more than 1,860 poles
- Installed more than 690 transformers
- Strung at least 724,075 feet of power lines, or about 161 miles.
SCE crews have been working to replace damaged equipment with fire-resistant equipment and covered conductor (also known as coated wire). SCE has also expedited undergrounding projects and begun work to underground multiple sections of lines in Altadena and Malibu, where permits have been approved, and projects were already engineered.
About Edison International
Edison International (NYSE: EIX) is one of the nation’s largest electric utility holding companies, focused on providing clean and reliable energy and energy services through its independent companies. Headquartered in Rosemead, California, Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison Company, a utility delivering electricity to 15 million people across Southern, Central and Coastal California. Edison International is also the parent company of Trio (formerly Edison Energy), a portfolio of nonregulated competitive businesses providing integrated sustainability and energy advisory services to large commercial, industrial and institutional organizations in North America and Europe.
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KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Utilities Energy
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