Southern California Edison insists it acted within safety limits despite winds nearing cutoff before the LA wildfires ignited
The CEO, Steven Powell, stated that the winds in Eaton Canyon on January 7 weren’t strong enough to warrant shutting off power. Normally, they need winds to hit between 60 and 80 mph to take action. However, the weather service recorded gusts of 59 mph when the Eaton Fire was first reported around 6 p.m.
Earlier that day, winds had reached up to 63 mph, and after the fire started, they spiked to 70 mph. It’s unclear how strong the winds were near Edison’s tower. Powell maintained that their data showed no issues in the 12 hours leading up to the fire, which has devastated parts of Altadena, just north of LA.
Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the Eaton Fire, which has destroyed around 7,000 structures and claimed at least 16 lives. The company is facing lawsuits claiming its equipment sparked the blaze, with eyewitnesses reporting flames near the transmission tower.
Videos of the alleged sparks have been shared widely online as the fires rage on. Powell expressed understanding for the community’s frustration, admitting he felt disheartened when he saw the viral footage. He acknowledged that it’s natural for people to think the fire was caused by Edison’s equipment when they see those images.
