SoCal Edison Reports Possible Cause Of Silverado Fire

IRVINE, CA — Southern California Edison reported to California officials Monday that an equipment issue is a probable cause of the Silverado Fire.

According to the utility, a "lashing wire may have contacted its overhead primary conductor, sparking the fire."
The Silverado Fire began in the area of Santiago Canyon Road and Silverado Canyon Road before 7 a.m. Monday.

Santa Ana winds blew through the site, gusting upwards of 40 to 50 miles per hour, which fanned the flames. Those winds sent embers rushing across the wildland of Irvine and, later, into Lake Forest.

A letter sent to the California Public Utilities Commission acknowledged that SCE had overhead electrical facilities near the point of origin of the 11,200-acre fire.

On Monday, two hotshot firefighters were critically injured, currently hospitalized at OC Global Medical Center.

Orange County Fire Authority has reported that no structures have burned as a result of this blaze.

SCE writes that there was "no indication of any circuit activity before the report time of the fire, nor downed overhead primary conductors in the origin area. However, it appears that a lashing wire that was attached to an underbuilt telecommunication line may have contacted SCE's overhead primary conductor, which may have resulted in the ignition of the fire."

The utility will continue to investigate the incident.

This is a developing report. Please refresh for the latest information.

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