New surveillance video shows what could be the start of the Eaton Fire, attorneys say

Updated 3 hours ago
PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Newly-released surveillance video appears to show two bright flashes in the area where the Eaton Fire began, according to attorneys for Altadena homeowners.

The footage, provided by the Gerrish Swim and Tennis Club in Pasadena, was recorded the night of Jan. 7, 2025. The video captures strong winds sweeping through the area before flashes are seen.

Attorneys for the homeowners say the flashes occurred where the Eaton Fire started and argue they came from a Southern California Edison transmission line that was idle at the time.

According to the filing, two flashes were three seconds apart and occurred at the same times electrical faults were recorded by Edison's equipment.

The attorneys contend the fire never would have happened if the idle line had been removed. In their filing, they wrote: "Southern California Edison has spent the last sixteen months attempting to forestall the inevitable legal consequences of razing a large swath of the communities of Altadena and Pasadena to the ground."



Southern California Edison said Tuesday it is continuing to investigate.

"So this idle line is being investigated," spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy said. "This video today that you're talking about shows the same two sparks that we saw in the ARCO video. And it is part of the broader analysis into finding out what happened around the start of the Eaton Fire. Edison has been committed to its own investigation, and in working with the authorities, to get to the bottom of this and to help the Altadena community recover and rebuild. We established the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program."

The utility said it has no estimate for when its investigation will conclude on whether the idle line caused the fire.


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