Officials Say Eaton Fire Was Caused by Southern California Edison Equipment

Scars of the fire at Eaton Canyon (Photo – Brian Biery)

State and local fire investigators have concluded that the Jan. 7, 2025, Eaton Fire was caused by out-of-service equipment managed by Southern California Edison, according to findings released Tuesday by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

By News Desk

The official investigation determined that decommissioned power line equipment managed by Southern California Edison ignited the fire, which claimed 19 lives, displaced thousands of residents and devastated communities in Altadena and Pasadena.

In response to the report, state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, said the findings confirmed what many residents had believed since the disaster.

“The findings of this report confirm what the people of Altadena have known for over a year and a half: A Southern California Edison decommissioned power line started the Eaton Fire that took the lives of 19 innocent people, devastated thousands of families and scarred a beautiful community,” Pérez said.

Pérez emphasized that accountability efforts must be accompanied by continued support for survivors, many of whom remain displaced.

“We must not lose sight of what is most important: Two out of three Eaton Fire survivors are still displaced,” Pérez said. “The road to recovery has been long and difficult and will not be complete until every survivor has received justice.”

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, D-28th District, who has led congressional efforts to secure federal disaster assistance, tax relief and long-term recovery resources for Eaton Fire survivors, also welcomed the investigation’s findings.

“Today’s findings from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Los Angeles County Fire Department confirm that out-of-service equipment managed by Southern California Edison sparked the Eaton Fire,” Chu said. “This official determination is an important step toward accountability and justice for the survivors, their families and our communities, which have endured unimaginable loss over the past 19 months.”

Chu called on Southern California Edison to support rebuilding efforts and take steps to prevent similar disasters in the future. She also urged Congress to approve disaster recovery funding requested by Gov. Gavin Newsom and to pass the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act, which would prevent survivors from being taxed on settlements received from Southern California Edison.

Assemblymember John Harabedian, D-Pasadena, who represents Altadena and chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, thanked the Los Angeles County Fire Department investigators, first responders and everyone involved in completing the investigation and providing answers to the community.

“I want to thank the Los Angeles County Fire Department investigators, first responders, and all who worked tirelessly to complete this investigation and provide the Altadena community with answers,” Harabedian said. “The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Eaton Fire investigation report provides critical findings on the origin and cause of the fire, including the role of a Southern California Edison transmission tower.”

Harabedian said Southern California Edison “must take responsibility for its role and fully cooperate with all ongoing reviews and investigations,” while emphasizing that the report is “one part of a broader effort to understand what happened and what must change going forward.”

As chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Harabedian said he is closely following the independent review he pushed for that is now being conducted by the California State Auditor.

“Independent oversight and a thorough examination of the facts are essential to ensuring Altadena residents receive the answers they are owed,” Harabedian said. “We owe it to them to follow the facts and take meaningful action to better protect communities across California.”

The Eaton Fire Collaborative, an organization focused on survivor advocacy and recovery efforts, said the release of the official origin and cause findings represents an important step toward accountability but emphasized that the recovery process must continue to center survivors.

“Today’s official origin and cause findings from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and CAL FIRE mark an important step toward accountability for survivors,” the Eaton Fire Collaborative said. “As those processes unfold, our focus remains firmly on survivors, ensuring that every family has the opportunity to come home with dignity and hope.”

The Collaborative said recovery must involve more than rebuilding damaged and destroyed homes, noting that survivors need support as they recover physically, emotionally and financially.

“Recovery means more than replacing structures,” the organization said. “It means helping survivors become as whole as possible physically, emotionally, and financially, so that families aren’t left carrying the cost of a disaster they did not cause.”

The group urged policymakers to ensure resources and recovery programs prioritize survivors and allow families to rebuild without overwhelming financial burdens.

“The measure of recovery isn’t the day a report is released,” the Eaton Fire Collaborative said. “It’s when every survivor can come home with dignity and a fair chance to rebuild without carrying this loss alone.”

Although the investigation provides an official determination of the fire’s cause, officials and survivor advocates stressed that the work is not finished. Thousands of families remain displaced nearly 19 months after the fire, and continued recovery efforts, accountability measures and independent reviews will shape the next phase of rebuilding for Altadena and Pasadena communities.