Eaton Fire Death Toll Reaches 17, Thousands of Structures Damaged

Investigators are examining whether a defunct 'zombie' power line could have ignited the deadly Eaton Fire in Southern California, which resulted in 17 fatalities and damage to over 10,000 structures. Surveillance footage from a gas station on January 7 captured electrical arcs from the line, which had been inactive since 1971, suggesting it may have been re-energized by electromagnetic charges from active lines. Southern California Edison (SCE) initially denied any fault but is now conducting an extensive investigation, including drone inspections and engineering analyses of its equipment. Several class action lawsuits have been filed against SCE, with victims claiming the utility company neglected proper maintenance that could have prevented the fire. Eyewitness reports and engineering assessments indicate that faulty grounding may have led to arcing that sparked the wildfire. The investigation remains ongoing, with no clear timeline for its completion.