Stunning new surveillance video allegedly shows how an old Southern California Edison electrical line ignited last year's deadly Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of acres across Altadena and Pasadena.
Background
The footage, captured by a camera at Gerrish Swim & Tennis Club in Pasadena, shows two bright flashes of light near an electrical tower holding a century-old, idle transmission line designated as M16T1. The flashes occurred around 6:11 p.m. on January 7, 2025, according to new court filings submitted by property insurers suing Edison. The flashes happened at the same time two faults occurred on a different line more than five miles away, lawyers stated in the filing.
The fire suspected to have grown into the devastating Eaton Fire was recorded by residents near the base of the M16T1 tower. The wildfire ultimately consumed thousands of acres of land, killed 19 people, and caused billions of dollars in damage to communities in Altadena and Pasadena.
"Southern California Edison has spent the last 16 months attempting to forestall the inevitable legal consequences of razing a large swath of the communities of Altadena and Pasadena to the ground," lawyers for property insurers wrote in court filings. "The Eaton Fire could not have occurred if SCE had simply disassembled and removed Structure M16T1."
The Investigation
Property insurers who paid out claims to fire victims are now seeking to hold Edison responsible for millions of dollars in damages, alleging the utility company's negligence with its idle infrastructure caused the catastrophe. Southern California Edison has yet to accept responsibility for the fire.
Edison has fought to keep inactive lines in place, arguing they preserve options for future use. "We have these inactive lines still available because there is a reasonable chance we're going to use them in the future," Shinjini Menon, Edison's senior vice president of system planning and engineering, told the Los Angeles Times.
The Trump administration sued Edison last year for allegedly starting the fire, seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages for both the Eaton Fire and the Fairview Fire. "Hardworking Californians should not pick up the tab for Edison's negligence," said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli at the time.
Edison claims it was unaware of the existence of the swim club surveillance video until recently. "It's very disappointing and inappropriate that this video was not produced in discovery," said Kathleen Dunleavy, an Edison spokesperson. "We hope that video has been turned over to the appropriate authorities." The company maintains its position that the lawyers' motion is "wrong on the facts and the law" and pledged to respond more fully in its own court filing.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is actively examining whether Edison should face criminal prosecution for allegedly starting the fire, according to reports from the LA Times earlier this year. Meanwhile, Edison has offered to compensate victims but only if they agree to waive their right to sue the company.
Key Takeaways
- Surveillance video allegedly shows two bright flashes near an idle electrical tower at 6:11 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2025—the same time faults occurred five miles away
- The M16T1 tower held a century-old transmission line that property insurers allege ignited the wildfire
- Edison has not accepted responsibility and disputes the new evidence presented in court filings
- The Trump administration seeks tens of millions in damages; LA County DA is considering criminal charges
- The utility company has offered victim compensation only if plaintiffs waive their right to sue
What's Next
Edison is expected to file its formal response to the insurers' motion. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office continues its review of potential criminal charges against Edison. Civil litigation proceedings are ongoing, with property insurers seeking to hold the utility company accountable for damages paid out to fire victims.
The case is being watched closely as a potential precedent for utility liability in wildfire cases across California.