SoCal Edison: Transmission Line May Have Started Fire, Review Underway

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LOS ANGELES (CBSLA/AP) — Southern California Edison says a massive wildfire in Simi Valley that forced thousands to evacuate broke out near its equipment.

Edison spokeswoman Robert Villegas told CBSLA the utility has filed a required report with state regulators acknowledging flames were sparked within its service territory near a sub-transmission line, which was energized at the time.

The cause of Wednesday's wind-driven Easy Fire in Simi Valley has not been determined.

According to Villegas, the location of the fire on Oct. 30 near W. Easy Street and Los Angeles Avenue was within the Edison service area and the utility is conducting a "review into the circumstances surrounding the fire".

The announcement comes after Edison shut off power to tens of thousands of customers and warned up to 304,000 customers could be without electricity as the most powerful Santa Ana wind event of the season descended on the area.

An extreme red flag warning is in effect for most of the Southland through 6 p.m. Thursday as forecasters predicted potential gusts of up to 80 miles per hour and single-digit relative humidity. This has created an elevated fire risk.

At least 86,000 SoCal Edison customers were without service as of Wednesday evening. The city of San Fernando reported that multiple traffic intersection were without power, but service was restored by late afternoon.

To mitigate the effects of the power shutoffs, SoCal Edison announced it will open mobile charging stations and community resource centers:

San Bernardino County - Charging Station

• Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Center, 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana — Opened 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Kern County - Charging Station

• Stallion Springs Community Center, 27800 Stallion Springs Drive, Tehachapi — Opened 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ventura County - Charging Station

• City Hall, 970 E. Ventura St., Santa Paula — Opened 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ventura County - Community Resource Centers

• Berylwood, 1955 Bridget Ave., Simi Valley — Opened 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Fillmore Senior Center, 533 Santa Clara St., Fillmore — Opened 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Los Angeles County - Community Resource Center

• The Agua Dulce Women's Club, 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce — Opened 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)