(Reuters) – Fire officials are investigating whether Southern California Edison’s utility infrastructure sparked a fire that is still burning in a Los Angeles suburb, SCE said on Friday, adding that no decision had been made.
SCE, a unit of US utility Edison International (NYSE: ), said in a filing with its regulators that a downed conductor was discovered on a tower associated with the Eagle Rock – Sylmar 220 kV circuit.
“SCE does not know if the damage observed occurred before or after the fire started,” the joint agency said.
SCE said preliminary information indicates the circuit experienced a relay at 10:11 p.m. (0611 GMT) where the fire was reported in Hurst around 10:10 p.m. on January 7.
The Hurst 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 made through the company’s website.
SCE said Thursday it had received notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence related to the Eaton (NYSE: ) fire still burning in Los Angeles, but said no fire department has linked the utility’s connection to the fire.
More than 10,000 structures have been destroyed by five wildfires raging in the region and nearly 30,000 acres have burned.
Private meteorologist AccuWeather has estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, predicting a painful recovery and soaring homeowners insurance costs.