Bobcat Fire May Have Started When Branches Hit Power Lines: SCE

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Bobcat Fire that burned more than 115,796-acres, imperilled the Mt. Wilson Observatory and forced thousands to evacuate, may have been caused by tree branches hitting a Southern California Edison overhead conductor, the utility giant announced Monday.

SCE announced the acknowledged the possibility in a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission.

U.S. Forest Service investigators have not discussed the details of the investigation with SCE, but the company told regulators, "SCE understands that in addition to retaining SCE's overhead conductor, USFS also removed and retained three tree branches in the area."

"SCE is investigating the cause of the ignition and the 12:16 p.m. relay on its system, and evaluating whether vegetation in the area could have been a factor, including whether vegetation may have encroached within the minimum clearance distance or contacted the section of the overhead conductor retained by USFS."

It's not the first major wildfire that may have been started by SCE equipment. SCE acknowledged that it may be responsible for the deadly Woolsey Fire after Ventura County Fire Department officials concluded the blaze was caused by SCE equipment.

Firefighters who have been battling the Bobcat Fire since Sept. 6, don't expect to have full containment until Oct. 30. The Bobcat Fire destroyed 171 structures, including 87 residences, and damaged 47 structures, including 28 residences. The Nature Center at the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area was destroyed, according to Los Angeles County parks officials.

The fire was reported near Cogswell Dam in the Angeles National Forest at 12:21 p.m. on Sept. 6, and a section of SCE's Jarvis 12 kV circuit in the area experienced a relay operation at 12:16 p.m., SCE reported. A camera at Mount Wilson captured smoke in the area as early as 12:10 p.m.

On Sept. 16, SCE removed a 23-foot-long line of the conductor for the U.S. Forest Service to use in their investigation.

"SCE personnel were permitted into the subject area and removed an approximate 23-foot section of 1/0 ACSR conductor (south phase) that was situated between an H-Frame structure comprised of Pole Nos. 4786005E and 4786004E, which had been significantly damaged in the fire and was no longer erect, and another H-Frame structure comprised of Pole Nos. 2127468E and 1583439E," SCE said in the letter.

The fire's containment reached 92% Sunday, as more than 300 firefighters continued to work the 115,796-acre blaze that's been burning for over a month.

A map, compiled from ongoing field damage inspection and subject to change, can be viewed at lacounty.gov/recovery/damage-inspection.

All evacuation orders have been canceled and most roads have been reopened, with the exception of Big Santa Anita Rd (the Chantry Road).

Temperatures gradually cooled over the weekend, but increased to the 90s and low humidity Monday, increasing fire danger.

The cost of fighting the fire has not been determined.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.