As the blaze rages on, destroying thousands of homes in the Los Angeles area and killing at least ten persons, officials investigate the reason behind the brutal wildfires at Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst.
Investigators have zeroed in on the origin of the Palisades wildfire to a home on Piedra Morada Drive, surrounded by dense, dry forest. However, what caused it is a mystery.
In the US, lightning is the number one cause of fires. However, given that there were no reports of lightning in the region (including the Palisades area and around Eaton), officials have ruled it out.
Other than lightning, fires in the US are commonly intentionally set or caused by faulty utility lines.
The Eaton fire began in east Los Angeles County on Tuesday (in LA) and spread to neighbouring areas aided by strong winds.
However, officials have not yet indicated this was an act of arson.
As for utility lines, major brands such as Edison have come forward to deny involvement in the same. On Wednesday, the company filed a statement to regulators to effectively reject certain reports that seemingly suggested the group’s equipment may have been associated with the ignition of the Eaton fire.
“Southern California Edison’s (SCE) distribution lines immediately to the west of Eaton Canyon were de-energized well before the reported start time of the fire, as part of SCE’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program. SCE is currently conducting a review of the event,” Edison said in the statement.
Regarding the Hurst fire that began on Tuesday evening (in LA), the company said, “While the reported ignition site is within the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s service area, SCE has transmission facilities near the reported ignition site, and the company is currently conducting a review of the event.”
In the fires that collectively were termed the most destructive in Los Angeles history, the damage is estimated to be around USD 140 billion so far.
Other major causes of fires in the region are the burning of debris and fireworks.
As of the latest reports, the Palisades fire, near the coast, has burned about 70 square kilometres. The Eaton fire, north of Pasadena, has burned more than 55 square kilometres. The Kenneth fire—which began on Thursday—in the San Fernando Valley (north of Palisades) has burned almost 4 square kilometres.
The fires at Kenneth, Eaton, and Palisades are still burning, as of recent reports, and are aided by winds and dry landscape. However, winds seem to have softened earlier on Friday (late Thursday in LA).
“California National Guard firefighters, aviation assets, and other support staff have joined the fight to suppress the Southern California wildfires. Additionally, resources from multiple states—including Oregon, Utah, and Nevada—are sending resources to help,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a recent update.