LOS ANGELES (AP) – A California utility company has admitted that its equipment likely ignited a wildfire in Los Angeles on a day when two other significant blazes resulted in at least 29 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of homes. Southern California Edison (SCE) provided this information during a mandatory filing with state utility regulators regarding the Hurst Fire, which, fortunately, did not cause any structural damage or fatalities.

In a previous report from last month, SCE acknowledged that fire investigators were looking into the possibility of their equipment being the cause of the Hurst Fire, which reportedly burned roughly 1.25 square miles (3.2 square kilometers) in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles. In the recent filing, SCE noted, "Absent additional evidence, SCE believes its equipment may be associated with the ignition of the Hurst Fire."

Additionally, in a separate filing, the utility company is examining whether an inactive transmission line may have been energized and potentially caused the Eaton Fire, a blaze that ravaged the community of Altadena. However, SCE maintains that there is currently no evidence linking its equipment to the ignition of this particular fire.

The Eaton Fire has had devastating consequences, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 individuals and was successfully contained by last week. Similarly, the Palisades Fire, recognized as the largest fire in this incident, reached full containment and was responsible for destroying thousands of homes and claiming at least 12 lives.

This situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by utility companies in California, particularly given the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in the region. Investigations into the precise causes of these wildfires are crucial for understanding how utilities can mitigate risks and prevent similar disasters in the future.