Fire agencies to investigate Edison’s connection to the LA Hurst fire by Reuters

(Reuters) – Fire agencies are investigating whether Southern California Edison utility infrastructure sparked a brush fire that is still burning in a Los Angeles suburb, SCE said on Friday, without making a determination.

A downed conductor was found on a tower connected to the Eagle Rock-Sylmar 220 kV circuit, US Edison International (NYSE) said in a filing to regulators.

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

SCE’s preliminary data shows that the circuit was switched off at 10:11 pm (0611 GMT) after the Hearst fire was reported at around 10:10 pm on January 7.

The Hearst Fire in Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, has grown to more than 770 acres and is now 77 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

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

SCE said on Thursday that it has received notices to preserve evidence related to insurance companies Eaton (NYSE: ) fire that is still burning in Los Angeles, but no fire agencies have linked the utility to the blaze.

More than 10,000 buildings have been destroyed and nearly 30,000 acres have burned in five fires in the area.

Private forecaster AccuWeather estimates the damage and economic losses at $135 billion to $150 billion, including a tough recovery and soaring homeowners’ insurance costs.