Fire officials are investigating possible connection between Edison and the LA Hurst fire

Fire officials are investigating whether Edison’s utility infrastructure in Southern California sparked a wildfire that is still burning in a Los Angeles suburb, SCE said Friday, adding that no determinations have been made yet.

SCE, a unit of U.S. utility Edison International, said in a report to regulators that a fallen conductor was discovered on a pole connected to the 220-kV Eagle Rock-Sylmar circuit.

“SCE does not know whether the observed damage occurred before or after the fire started,” the utility said.

SCE said preliminary information shows a relay occurred at the circuit at 10:11 p.m. (06:11 GMT), with the Hurst fire reported at around 10:10 p.m. on January 7.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Hurst Fire in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles has reached more than 770 acres and is now 77% contained.

Edison International did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through the company’s website.

SCE said Thursday it had received notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence related to the still-burning Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, but said no fire department had linked the utility company to the fire.

More than 10,000 buildings were destroyed by five fires in the area and nearly 30,000 hectares of land burned.

Private meteorologist AccuWeather has estimated damage and economic losses at $135 billion to $150 billion, suggesting a difficult recovery and rising insurance costs for homeowners.