California Edison Faces Scrutiny Over Role in Eaton and Creek Fires

The utility is accused of withholding critical evidence in the 2017 Creek Fire and is now under investigation for its potential involvement in the deadly January Eaton Fire.

Federal investigators have determined that Southern California Edison equipment caused the 2017 Creek Fire, which destroyed 70 homes, though the utility denies responsibility.
Edison is accused of suppressing key fault data related to the Creek Fire, delaying investigations and potentially misleading authorities about the fire's origin.
The January 7, 2025 Eaton Fire, which killed 17 people and destroyed over 7,000 homes, is under investigation, with evidence linking its ignition to an Edison transmission tower in Eaton Canyon.
Edison disclosed a fault on its Eagle Rock-Gould line near the time of the Eaton Fire's ignition, but the utility claims the fault was within operational limits and unrelated to the fire.
Court orders have mandated Edison to preserve equipment and data connected to the Eaton Fire as investigators examine videos, witness accounts, and electrical activity near the fire's origin.