California: Power lines cited as cause of largest wildfires

Source: UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

SAN DIEGO – Cal Fire investigators on Friday released the official causes of the largest of the October wildfires that burned in San Diego County – blaming power lines for most of them. State fire investigators have determined the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice fires – which destroyed more than 1,100 homes – were started by power lines.

. . .

The Witch Creek fire, which began on a ranch about 10 miles east of Ramona, charred 197,990 acres and burned 1,141 homes and 509 outbuildings, that is, sheds and other structures. It was the second largest fire in county history, behind only the 2003 Cedar fire.

The Witch Creek fire merged with the Guejito fire, which began near San Pasqual Valley. Witnesses say it was caused by a power transformer blowing up.

The Rice Fire in Fallbrook burned 9,472 acres and destroyed 206 homes, two commercial buildings and 40 outbuildings.

The Poomacha fire, which burned parts of Palomar Mountain as well as several Indian reservations and parts of Valley Center, burned 49,410 acres and destroyed 138 homes, one commercial building and 78 outbuildings.

The Harris fire, the fifth largest in county history, burned 90,440 acres and destroyed 253 homes, two commercial buildings and 293 outbuildings.



Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071116-1750-bn16cause2.html

levees in NO failing
bridges falling down
powerlines improperly maintained (not to mention aging power grids)

Small weekend article in local papers citing true cause of fires.

I agree with your assessment. Likelihood of utilities having to pay the piper is very low.

by sight or sound, or sometimes both, in JUST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD in Minneapolis.

It's unavoidable, really. In areas where they could cause massive fires, some new technology should be put in place to protect that exploding transformers would cause a fire, such as fire-retardation chemicals automatically being distributed by an exploding transformer, perhaps encasing the transformer in an outer metal jacket.