Washington Post report blames California utility SCE for 2022 fire

Robert Besser
20 Nov 2023, 08:14 GMT+10

Washington Post reported that California authorities have determined that a major utility company, Southern California Edison, is responsible for a 2022 wildfire that killed two people
The newspaper said that on September 5, 2022, a power line managed by SCE, a subsidiary of Edison International, had sagged and hit a communications line below it, causing sparks that ignited nearby vegetation
The resulting fire burned more than 28,000 acres in Riverside County near the town of Hemet, some 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles

ROSEMEAD, California: This week, the Washington Post reported that California authorities have determined that a major utility company, Southern California Edison (SCE), is responsible for a 2022 wildfire that killed two people.

Citing an unreleased California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (Cal Fire) document, the newspaper said that on September 5, 2022, a power line managed by SCE, a subsidiary of Edison International, had sagged and hit a communications line below it, causing sparks that ignited nearby vegetation.

The resulting fire burned more than 28,000 acres (11,300 hectares) in Riverside County near the town of Hemet, some 75 miles (120 km) southeast of Los Angeles.

The fire killed two and injured one person.

In response, SCE said it was reviewing the Cal Fire document and stressed that it cooperated with state authorities during their investigation.

SCE spokeswoman Diane Castro said, "Our hearts are with the community and the people who suffered losses in the Fairview Fire."

Power companies are often blamed for causing wildfires by not shutting down transmission grids during high winds, which can knock down electrified lines and ignite vegetation.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Utah Independent.

More Information

34 ℉

Mostly Cloudy in Salt Lake City

International

Section

Heavy snowfall, blizzards reported in Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria

CHISINAU, Moldova: Over the weekend, heavy snowfall and strong blizzards in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria left one person dead and ...

House Ethics Committee report results in Santos expulsion

WASHINGTON D.C.: After a House Ethics Committee report found substantial evidence that he broke the law, New York Republican representative ...

Israel had blueprint of 7 October attack plan - The New York Times

In a report by The New York Times, it has been revealed that Israeli officials had obtained a detailed battle ...

Myanmar ethnic group alliance captures trade gate on Chinese border

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which launched a surprise offensive last month against ...

U.S. backs Israel's restart of earth-shattering war in Gaza

While Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has been frantically shuttling around the Middle East trying to stop the Israeli coflict ...

12 crew members reported missing as Cargo ship sinks off Greek island

LESBOS, Greece: Greek authorities said a cargo ship sank off the island of Lesbos over the weekend during a storm, ...

Business

Section