Shares of Edison International's (EIX, Financials) subsidiary, Southern California Edison Company, fell by 1.9% on Monday to $57.74 at 1:14 p.m. GMT-5 following the company's detailed report to the California Public Utilities Commission regarding the Eaton Fire that erupted near Eaton Canyon in Altadena on Jan. 7.
As of this report, the Eaton Fire started under Santa Ana wind conditions has been 98% suppressed. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimates that the fire destroyed 9,418 buildings, burnt around 14,021 acres, and damaged 1,073 others. Nine firemen and nine civilians suffered injuries while the fire claimed seventeen confirmed deaths.
According to SCE, the fire affected Fair Oaks Substation among other distribution hubs in the Alt Pasadena region. Supported by Cal incident and other agencies, the Los Angeles County Fire Department is looking into the source and cause of the incident. Initial results on January 12 focused on the source of the fire close to Eaton Canyon, home of three SCE transmission towers.
SCE was told on January 16 to keep its transmission infrastructure close to the determined origin point intact. The corporation is following this guideline as it waits for further direction. Up until more than an hour after the fire started, initial electrical data analysis showed no anomalies on the four activated transmission lines in Eaton Canyon. At 6:11 p.m., a separate fault was found on the Eagle Rock-Gould 220 kV line that did not span Eaton Canyon and was controlled by SCE's system protection systems as intended.
SCE also noted the finding of security video in Eaton Canyon showing two flashes of light on the evening the fire started. Reviewing the footage, the corporation is looking for any link to its operations. Furthermore, on January 25 SCE gathered securely maintained metal objects close to the transmission towers and materials from a neighboring campsite from Eaton Canyon.
Eaton Canyon's transmission cables are now deenergized. Notwithstanding the difficult terrain and accessibility problems, plaintiffs' lawyers in related cases have asked for more inspections, which SCE is responding. Legal proceedings have also sought the preservation of SCE's equipment in nearby Eaton Canyon, with some petitions awaiting court rulings that would affect repair and cleaning activities.
Under the direction of Edison International, SCE continues looking into the event, looking into records, facilities, and any witness reports to identify the source of the fire. As the inquiry advances, the business intends to provide the Commission further material.
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