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16 Jan 2025

Official investigations into why the LA wildfires started are now initiated

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The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have prompted investigations into their origins, with several official theories under consideration:

 

  1. Neglected Power Lines: Allegations have surfaced that inadequate maintenance of electrical infrastructure may have led to sparks igniting the fires. Residents in Altadena have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison, claiming that the company's equipment caused the Eaton fire. Evidence includes eyewitness accounts and visual documentation of power lines emitting sparks. 

     

    Forbes

     

  2. Fireworks: Reports suggest that a minor fire on New Year's Eve, caused by fireworks in the mountains above Los Angeles, might have left embers that later ignited into the larger Pacific Palisades fire. This theory is under investigation by federal authorities. 

     

    Sky News

     

  3. Arson: Authorities are also exploring the possibility of deliberate ignition, considering the rapid spread and multiple points of origin of the fires. However, no conclusive evidence has been presented to confirm this theory. 

     

    AP News

 

These investigations are ongoing, and it may take months before official causes are determined for each fire. In the meantime, residents are urged to remain vigilant and adhere to safety guidelines to prevent further incidents. 

Several authorities, experts, and attorneys are now investigating how and where the catastrophic wildfires might have started. However, it is likely to take time—possibly months—before an official cause is determined for each fire, according to the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com).

Anonymous sources with knowledge of the investigation into the Pacific Palisades fire have stated that it "appears to have a human origin," according to the Los Angeles Times.

The investigation has centered on a "crime scene" located in the mountains above Los Angeles residential areas. The site experienced a small fire on New Year’s Eve caused by fireworks, which firefighters declared extinguished after five hours.

According to some experts, remnants of the New Year’s Eve fire may have ignited the larger Pacific Palisades fire a week later, as reported by the Washington Post (washingtonpost.com).

Several residents in the Altadena area have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison, alleging that the Eaton fire was started by the company’s electrical equipment.

The lawsuits cite eyewitness accounts, video footage, and photographs as evidence, claiming that sparks from power lines were the ignition source, as reported by the Associated Press (apnews.com).