A surge in electrical faults was detected in areas of Los Angeles just hours before three large wildfires ignited this week.
Key Facts:
– Whisker Labs detected a sharp rise in grid faults across Los Angeles, especially near the Eaton, Palisades, and Hurst Fires.
– Company CEO Bob Marshall said 63 faults appeared in the Palisades area shortly before that major blaze started.
– Over 12,000 homes and buildings have been burned, and at least 11 people have died across the county.
– High Santa Ana winds swept the region, a condition that can lead to increased power line sparks.
– Investigators have not identified the exact cause of the wildfires.
The Rest of The Story:
Whisker Labs monitors electrical arcs and other issues on power lines through a network of roughly 14,000 “ting” sensors installed in residential homes around Los Angeles.
Chief Executive Bob Marshall described how these sensors detect abnormal grid events, such as wires clashing or tree limbs hitting lines in strong winds.
He stressed that while the company sees a connection between abnormal electrical faults and these recent wildfires, they cannot say for certain that the faults directly sparked the flames.
Data shared by the company indicate that in one neighborhood, fault counts went from an almost normal level to dozens in a matter of hours.
The Palisades Fire area alone registered 63 power line disturbances before it caught ablaze.
Meanwhile, the Eaton and Hurst Fire zones also showed significant spikes in electrical problems.
At the same time, weather conditions worsened with strong Santa Ana winds, making power lines even more vulnerable.
Sparks from these faults may have dropped onto dry vegetation, and gusts could have spread embers rapidly.
In the midst of these growing concerns, local authorities have yet to determine if utility lines were the principal cause.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power chose not to shut off electricity ahead of the wildfires.
They explained that although other major California utilities have sometimes implemented large-scale power shutoffs for wildfire prevention, city officials believe alternative measures are in place to manage risks.
Gov. Gavin Newsom cut California’s fire budget by $100M just months before the Los Angeles wildfires.
If Newsom had instead preserved the funding for fire prevention, perhaps the Pacific Palisades wouldn’t have been annihilated. pic.twitter.com/0RqCzK2gme
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 11, 2025
The Bottom Line:
Data from Whisker Labs show there was a notable jump in power grid glitches across Los Angeles right before the region’s major blazes erupted.
Although experts caution that the cause is not confirmed, the timing has drawn public attention to the utility’s practices.
READ NEXT: Another Left Wing Propaganda Outlet Announces Layoffs
Officials continue to investigate the link between power line problems and wildfires.