How did the California wildfires start? Officials are weighing power lines, fireworks and arson

Topline

Four devastating wildfires were still burning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties in Southern California on Tuesday, but it’s not yet clear what started the fires – as government officials, lawyers and experts weigh theories including electrical problems, embers from older fires and arson.

This photo provided by Patrick Dossett shows the start of the Palisades Fire in Southern California. … (+) Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Associated Press

Important facts

The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire both broke out on January 7 and grew to more than 23,000 and 14,000 acres, respectively, destroying thousands of structures and prompting more than 100,000 evacuations across Los Angeles.

Several smaller fires — including the Hurst Fire and Auto Fire, both still active Tuesday — broke out after the Palisades and Eaton fires, prompting additional evacuations.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the causes of all four active fires remain under investigation, leading to unanswered questions about what may have caused some of California’s most devastating wildfires.

Anonymous officials involved in the investigation into the origins of the Palisades Fire told the Los Angeles Times that it appeared to be human in origin, but noted that the investigation was ongoing.

Investigators are focusing on a “crime scene” area that sits above most of Los Angeles in a neighborhood with rocky bluffs and popular hiking trails and is considered a potential ignition site of the Palisades Fire, The New York Times reported.

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Arson

Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Dominic Choi said Monday that officials were investigating every aspect and would not rule out arson as a cause of any of the major fires, but added that there was “no definitive determination that it was arson.” The theory has captured public attention after a spate of arson-related arrests, including the arrest of a man who was allegedly seen starting a fire near the smaller Kenneth Fire last week – although police later said There is no probable cause to charge him with arson, and they cannot confirm any connection between the arrested man and the fires. Some experts are skeptical of the theory. A former Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chief told NBC News that the area where the Palisades fire started was “inaccessible, rugged terrain” that would not normally attract an arsonist. Experts also told NBC that natural causes were a more plausible theory due to the strong wind conditions: “In most cases, these fires are not arson… There is no data to show that winds bring out arsonists,” one said former LA County Sheriff’s Office detective said. The National Interagency Fire Center says more than 20% of human-caused wildfires could be due to arson. However, the actual number is unclear as arson cases may be misclassified for some time.

Power lines and electrical infrastructure

Several Altadena residents sued Southern California Edison on Monday, claiming the Eaton fire was started by the company’s electrical equipment. The lawsuits cite eyewitness accounts of sparks in power lines. The company has pushed back against the theory, saying in a statement Sunday that its “analysis shows no interruptions or operational/electrical anomalies in the 12 hours prior to the reported fire onset to more than an hour after the reported fire onset.” One of the lawsuits filed allegedly stated: “There is clear evidence from video footage, photographs and witness statements that the fire was caused by electrical equipment operated by defendants Edison International and Southern California Edison.” The energy infrastructure was in the It has historically been a leading cause of fires in California—eight of the state’s 20 most destructive fires had energy-related causes—and the number of fires started by equipment has increased recently, the New York Times reported.

Old embers – or fireworks

Some experts and residents believe the Palisades Fire may have been started by the remnants of a New Year’s Day fire that broke out after fireworks were set off. The fire broke out Jan. 1 in the same location as the Palisades Fire and burned about three to four acres before firefighters said it was contained about five hours later, the Associated Press reported. Michael Gollner, a fire scientist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, told the Washington Post: “It’s entirely possible that something from that previous fire reignited within a week and caused the Palisades Fire to ignite.” A spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that the department does not typically drive past fire sites to check for embers still burning. The New York Times points out that several major fires in the past were believed to have been started by old fires that authorities believed had been extinguished, including the 2023 Maui wildfire that killed 102 people , and a deadly firestorm in Northern California in 1991.

Other human causes

Cal Fire said 95% of past wildfires in California were caused by humans, but the agency noted that human causes range from intentional arson to accidental situations such as campfires or discarded cigarette butts, CNN reported.

flash

Officials were able to rule out lightning as a possible cause of the Palisades or Eaton fires because there was no stormy weather in the area the week the fires began, ABC News reported Jan. 9. However, lightning is a common cause of wildfires, leading to 174 wildfires in Southern California in 2023, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

How many other fires have there been in Los Angeles?

In addition to four active wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, there were at least four other fires that are now contained, including the Sunset Fire that burned through the Hollywood Hills and Runyon Canyon, the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills Area and the Lidia Fire in the Angeles National Forest and Woodley Fire.

What you should pay attention to

More information from investigators. The process of determining the cause of a fire begins with locating the source of the fire. Investigators then typically search the crime scene on their hands and knees, looking for clues as to what might have started the fire. This could take days, NBC News reported. If they find evidence that a person committed the crime, investigators must determine whether it was intentional arson or accidental negligence. However, NBC reported that the process could take months or years.

Important background

Whatever the cause of the fires, experts seem to agree that conditions for the fires to spread easily have been worsened by climate change. The California Air Resources Board said the area burned by wildfires in the state has been increasing every year since 1950 and unusually warm temperatures combined with very little rainfall are “creating conditions for extreme, high-severity wildfires that spread rapidly.” Last summer was particularly hot in California and across the West, while there was very little rainfall: the BBC reported that just 0.16 inches of rain had fallen in downtown Los Angeles since October.

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