Investigation: Altadena distribution‑line faults started fires hours before Eaton transmission sparks
NPR’s investigation, backed by Whisker Labs data, found more than 200 distribution‑line malfunctions across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025 — including three faults in Altadena (about 11:00 a.m., ~4:20 p.m. when homeowner Tom Ware says meter arcing started a small ground fire he and neighbors extinguished, and ~6:42 p.m./9:38 p.m.) — with at least one Altadena distribution‑line‑linked fire beginning hours before sparks were reported on Eaton Canyon transmission lines. Despite multiple detectable faults and firefighter dispatches, SoCal Edison did not de‑energize most Altadena circuits, a failure that has helped spur DOJ scrutiny and more than 40 victim lawsuits, and an independent review of the Eaton Fire found communication failures and inadequate staffing during the response.
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🔍 Key Facts
- An independent review found communication failures and inadequate staffing in the response to the Eaton Fire and another January 2025 Southern California wildfire; the reports say the blazes burned entire neighborhoods and were described as deadly.
- NPR’s investigation, using Whisker Labs data, identified more than 200 distribution-line malfunctions across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025, including three distinct faults in Altadena at roughly 11:00 a.m., 6:42 p.m., and 9:38 p.m.
- NPR found distribution power-line malfunctions in Altadena as early as ~11:00 a.m. on Jan. 7, and at least one distribution-line-linked fire in Altadena began hours before sparks were reported near high-voltage transmission lines in Eaton Canyon.
- On-the-ground reporting: homeowner Tom Ware said a meter arced around 4:20 p.m., starting a small ground fire that he and neighbors extinguished — an example of distribution-line-linked fire activity that day.
- SoCal Edison did not de-energize most distribution circuits in Altadena on Jan. 7, 2025, despite multiple detectable faults and firefighter dispatches tied to power lines.
- Reporting shows distribution faults either preceded or paralleled transmission anomalies that day and places the events in the context of a Department of Justice inquiry and more than 40 victim lawsuits against SoCal Edison.
- CBS News published video coverage (reporter Carter Evans) summarizing the newly released review of the Eaton Fire response.
📰 Sources (3)
5 takeaways from NPR's investigation into the role of distribution lines in LA fires
New information:
- NPR publishes Whisker Labs distribution‑line dataset showing three distinct faults in Altadena (~11:00 a.m., 6:42 p.m., ~9:38 p.m.)
- On‑the‑ground account: homeowner Tom Ware reports meter arcing around 4:20 p.m. that started a small ground fire he and neighbors extinguished
- Reporting confirms SoCal Edison did not de‑energize most Altadena distribution circuits despite detectable faults
- Contextualizes DOJ and 'more than 40' victim lawsuits against SoCal Edison while showing distribution faults preceded or paralleled transmission anomalies
Hours before the Eaton fire, distribution lines failed and fire started in Altadena
New information:
- NPR found distribution power‑line malfunctions in Altadena as early as 11:00 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2025, and at least one distribution‑line‑linked fire started in Altadena hours before sparks were reported near high‑voltage transmission lines in Eaton Canyon.
- Whisker Labs data estimating more than 200 distribution-line malfunctions across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025, with three malfunctions recorded in Altadena that day.
- SoCal Edison did not de‑energize most circuits in Altadena on Jan. 7, 2025, despite multiple faults and firefighter dispatches tied to power lines in the morning and afternoon.
Eaton Fire report finds communication failures, inadequate staffing
New information:
- An independent report found communication failures and inadequate staffing during response to the Eaton Fire and another January wildfire in Southern California.
- The blazes burned entire neighborhoods and were described as deadly in the CBS News coverage.
- CBS News published a video report (reporter Carter Evans) summarizing the findings of the newly released review.