The Eaton fire ignited on January 7, 2025, in Altadena, California, resulting in 17 fatalities and substantial property damage, ultimately burning over 14,000 acres and destroying more than 10,000 structures.

Investigations are underway to determine whether equipment from Southern California Edison contributed to the fire, particularly after witnesses reported seeing flames under an Edison transmission tower shortly after the fire started.

Firefighters experienced slow responses from Edison when requesting power shutdowns, which created dangerous conditions during their firefighting efforts.

On the day of the fire, residents urged Edison to shut off power due to strong winds, but the utility claimed that wind speeds did not meet their threshold for action.

While Edison did preemptively cut power to some lower-capacity lines, larger transmission lines remained energized until after the fire had begun.

Public records indicate that Edison had been warned about the risks of power shutdowns potentially overloading other transmission lines, yet necessary fixes were repeatedly delayed.

A report from the California Independent System Operator highlighted that cutting power could lead to significant electrical surges, increasing the risk of fires.

Edison faced criticism for delaying the implementation of crucial fixes to mitigate these risks, with scheduled work remaining incomplete for several years.

In the aftermath of the fire, over 40 lawsuits have been filed against Edison, emphasizing the legal repercussions of their operational decisions regarding power management.

Edison's CEO acknowledged that evidence suggests the company's equipment may have played a role in the fire, particularly noting a momentary increase in electrical current at the time of the incident.

Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Edison maintains that it uses Public Safety Power Shutoffs as a tool to prevent wildfires, relying on various environmental factors to guide their decisions.

A $17.3 million reconductoring project aimed at reducing wildfire risks has been delayed until June 2025, despite being approved three years prior.