Southern California Edison (SCE) has confirmed that a short circuit occurred on its grid just after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, coinciding with the start of the Hurst Fire. The incident, which involved a collapsed transmission tower, was identified near Eagle Rock and Sylmar. The malfunction occurred at the same time as the fire’s ignition, although Edison has not determined whether the power line failure occurred before or after the fire began. Investigations are currently underway to clarify the timing and cause of the incident.
The Hurst Fire, which has now scorched approximately 800 acres, was reported to be 76 percent contained by Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, over 100,000 Californians remain without power, according to Poweroutage.us, as the region grapples with widespread outages linked to the electrical equipment failure.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact timeline of the events, experts are weighing in on potential causes. Bob Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, a company that monitors electrical activity, shared with Fox News that his team detected a surge in electrical faults hours before the outbreak of the Eaton, Palisades, and Hurst Fires. Marshall suggested that issues such as tree branches making contact with power lines or wires blowing in the wind could have triggered the faults, but he noted that the power was not immediately cut off after the spikes in activity.
The investigation into the cause of the fires continues, with no definitive explanation yet provided by authorities. As the West Coast remains on edge, the largest wildfire in the region spreads further, fueled by swift and unpredictable winds that could push the flames into previously unaffected areas. Officials have warned of the ongoing danger as the fire season intensifies.
California is currently battling four large wildfires that have claimed at least 11 lives and destroyed nearly 12,000 structures. Authorities have traced the origin of the wind-driven blaze to a residence on Piedra Morada Drive, located above a heavily forested ravine.
While lightning strikes are often the primary cause of fires in the U.S., the National Fire Protection Association quickly ruled out this possibility. No lightning activity was reported near the Palisades or Eaton Fire locations, both of which have already caused widespread destruction in the region. Although arson and sparks from utility lines are typically considered as potential causes, no evidence of deliberate fire-setting has been found in these cases.
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