LOS ANGELES — A deadly wildfire that swept through the Altadena neighborhood in Los Angeles County in early 2025 was ignited by electrical sparks from a Southern California Edison transmission tower, according to a report released Tuesday by county fire officials.
The report, produced through a joint investigation by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Cal Fire, concludes that the fire, which caused 19 fatalities and destroyed more than 9,400 structures, originated from sparking on a transmission tower that was out of service at the time. The blaze, known as the Eaton fire, started in the Eaton Canyon area and quickly spread into nearby neighborhoods.
Investigators reviewed evidence over an 18-month period, including video footage from a resident that captured “an unknown burning material” falling from the deactivated tower onto dry vegetation shortly before flames erupted. The footage reportedly shows two bright flashes near the tower at approximately 6:11 p.m. on January 7, 2025, immediately followed by fire igniting underneath the structure. Several eyewitnesses told investigators they saw flames beneath the tower prior to the fire’s expansion.
Southern California Edison had previously acknowledged that its equipment was likely involved in starting the fire but had not received formal confirmation until this report’s release. In response, spokespeople for the utility said they have taken their possible role seriously and emphasized that wildfires of the Eaton fire’s scale typically involve multiple contributing factors.
The Eaton fire was part of a devastating week of wildfires in the Los Angeles area that also included a separate blaze in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which killed 12 people. Combined, the fires resulted in 31 deaths and caused an estimated $164 billion in property and related losses. The joint disaster is considered the second deadliest wildfire event in California history, behind the 2018 Camp fire in Paradise, which claimed 85 lives.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, charged federally in connection with the Pacific Palisades fire, was declared a mistrial in June after a jury deadlocked; his retrial is scheduled for October. Meanwhile, rebuilding efforts for the thousands of destroyed homes in Altadena and Pacific Palisades continue, with many residents still facing challenges due to smoke damage and uncertain timelines for safe return.
Southern California Edison took the rare step in October 2025 of setting up a compensation fund for fire victims before investigators officially identified a cause, pledging hundreds of millions in payments. The utility has also filed lawsuits against government entities and private parties, accusing them of inadequate warnings and insufficient wildfire prevention measures.
Experts and lawyers representing affected residents have pointed to so-called “zombie” lines—power lines that remain energized by nearby active circuits despite being disconnected—as a likely cause. Mikal Watts, an attorney for many Altadena homeowners who lost property, welcomed the fire department’s findings, calling for Southern California Edison to take full financial responsibility for the damages, which he estimates at $20 billion.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone stressed that while identifying the fire’s origin is important, the focus remains on supporting residents’ recovery and ensuring lessons learned translate into improved wildfire safety measures. “Our attention is on assisting our residents to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, and ensuring meaningful change in memory of those who lost their lives,” Marrone said.