As Southern California Edison continues to help rebuild the communities affected by the January wildfires, media interest in SCE’s response has persisted and has sometimes resulted in misguided reporting.
For example, some recent news reports have questioned SCE’s cooperation with fire agencies. The reports claim radio communications indicate SCE did not respond to requests from firefighters to de-energize power lines during the active fire, due to staffing issues. SCE is not aware of such instances and was adequately staffed for the event.
What we do know is that SCE worked very closely with the Los Angeles County Fire Department during the Eaton Fire and embedded fire management personnel at the Eaton Fire command post for three weeks. We remain committed to cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
SCE recognizes the interest in analyzing radio communications, which are conducted by emergency personnel over specialized frequencies and are often the first source of information when an emergency develops. However, this initial radio traffic is typically preliminary, unverified and does not reflect the most accurate accounting of a situation after the fact.
The Eaton Fire was an unprecedented, large-scale event that brought widespread destruction unlike anything previously seen in the Los Angeles area. We are grateful to SCE’s emergency responders who have vast experience in firefighting, have strong relationships with the firefighting community and acted decisively when their leadership was needed. They respond to the scene of emergency incidents to help keep first responders safe and protect our communities.
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