New Video Reveals Cause of Eaton Fire

Recently released surveillance footage appears to depict how an old Edison power line in Southern California sparked last year’s devastating Eaton Fire.

Captured by a camera at the Gerrish Swim & Tennis Club in Pasadena, the video shows two bright flashes occurring near a power tower that supports a century-old, unused power line.

According to court documents, this incident happened on January 7, 2025, around 6:11 p.m. The filings indicate that this failure coincided with two other incidents on different power lines over five miles away.

Residents nearby reported a fire erupting at the base of the M16T1 transmission tower, which housed the dormant line. It’s believed that this fire escalated into the Eaton Fire, which devastated thousands of acres, resulted in over a dozen fatalities, and incurred billions in damages.

A property insurance company is laying the blame on Edison, seeking to hold the utility accountable for the millions paid out to residents affected by the fire. They argue that the unused line should have been dismantled.

Over the past 16 months, the attorneys representing the insurance company asserted that Southern California Edison has tried to avoid the legal ramifications stemming from the damage inflicted on Altadena and Pasadena communities.

“If SCE had just taken down Structure M16T1, the Eaton Fire wouldn’t have happened,” the lawyers stated.

Meanwhile, Edison claims they weren’t aware of the video from the swim club.

Edison spokeswoman Kathleen Dunleavy described the situation as “extremely unfortunate and inappropriate,” stressing that they expect the video to be submitted to the relevant authorities. She asserted that the company finds the allegations against them to be “false on the facts and the law” and intends to respond in detail through future court documents.

Despite ongoing calls for dismantling the dormant lines, Edison has maintained them, stating that they want to keep options open for future use. Shinjini Menon, Edison’s senior vice president of systems planning and engineering, explained that preserving these inactive lines is important for potential future power needs and rights-of-way acquired during their installation.

Furthermore, the Trump administration previously sued Edison for their alleged role in igniting the fire, seeking tens of millions for damages related to both the Eaton Fire and the Fairview Fire.

“We hope today’s filing prompts a cultural shift at Southern California Edison towards being more responsible and supportive of our communities,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri, emphasizing that hardworking Californians shouldn’t bear the consequences of Edison’s negligence.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is currently deliberating whether to pursue criminal charges against Edison in connection with the fire.

Interestingly, Edison proposed compensation to victims, but only on the condition that they relinquish their right to sue the company.