Southern California Edison Says Its Equipment May Have Helped Start Thomas Fire

Source: NPR

Southern California Edison Says Its Equipment May Have Helped Start Thomas Fire

October 31, 20181:38 AM ET
EMILY SULLIVAN

The Southern California Edison utility company says its electrical equipment is at least partly to blame for starting the deadly Thomas Fire last year that engulfed hundreds of thousands of acres as it swept through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Witnesses say that the fire ignited in the vicinity of an SCE power pole near Koenigstein Road in Santa Paula, one of least two origin points for the fire that began in early December and burned for weeks, the utility company said. The Thomas Fire was directly blamed for two deaths, including San Diego County firefighter Cory Iverson.

"SCE is continuing to analyze the progression of the fire from the Koenigstein Road ignition point and the extent of damages that may be attributable to that ignition," the company said in a statement.

The second origin point was in the Anlauf Canyon area of Ventura County, the utility says, but SCE has not determined if its equipment was involved in that ignition.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2018/10/31/662399218/southern-california-edison-says-it-is-partly-to-blame-for-thomas-fire