LOS ANGELES, CA – Attorneys representing wildfire victims released surveillance footage over the weekend that they claim shows the possible ignition point of the Eaton Fire, which devastated Altadena and contributed to the rising death toll of wildfires in Los Angeles County.
The video, obtained from an Arco gas station less than a mile from where the fire is believed to have started, was made public by Edelson PC, a law firm suing Southern California Edison (SCE) on behalf of at least one homeowner who lost her property.
The footage, which captures the canyon hillside north of the station on the night of Jan. 7, shows strong winds shaking trees and power lines. Attorneys point to a flash of light in the distance, followed by what they allege are sparks falling onto the dry brush, suggesting a possible electrical malfunction.
The release of the footage comes as the death toll from the Eaton and Palisades fires reaches 29. More than 9,000 structures have been destroyed, and thousands remain displaced. The cause of the Eaton Fire remains under investigation, with Cal Fire and other agencies conducting an inquiry that could take months.
SCE has maintained that its equipment did not cause the fire, stating that the weather conditions on Jan. 7 did not meet the utility’s threshold for automatically shutting off power in the area. “Our preliminary analysis found no faults on the transmission lines that run through the canyon,” SCE spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy said in a statement. She added that while a fault was later identified on a more distant line, it remained “within standard operating parameters.”
During a court hearing on Monday, attorneys from Edelson PC sought to ensure that all physical evidence related to the fire’s origins remains preserved. “Today’s hearing underscores the stakes of this litigation for our community,” attorney Ali Moghaddas said outside the courthouse. “SCE had plans to unilaterally, potentially destroy evidence in this case, but the court’s order puts a stop to that.”
Legal action against SCE continues to grow, with more than 20 lawsuits already filed. The litigation process, which could take years, centers on whether the utility bears responsibility for the wildfire’s ignition. The judge overseeing this case has asked both sides to reconvene in 21 days.
As investigations proceed, SCE has pledged to cooperate with authorities and said it remains committed to a thorough review of the fire’s origins. Meanwhile, for residents who lost homes and loved ones in the fire, answers remain elusive.
