California bobcat wildfire may have sparked from tree branches hitting power equipment, utility company says

The cause of the Bobcat Fire in California remains under investigation, with damaged power equipment now being viewed as a potential cause of the wildfire.

The Bobcat Fire has been raging in California since September 6, when an undisclosed incident sparked yet another wildfire in the state.

On Monday, Southern California Edison sent a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission, detailing progress in the investigation into the Bobcat Fire.

Scroll down for video

The Bobcat Fire (seen above on September 19) continues to rage in California, though it is now 92 percent contained

In the letter, SCE stated that U.S. Forest Service investigators took possession of a 23-foot line of conductor owned by SCE, according to Fox News.

The so-called 'H-frame structure' in question consisted of two power poles and three tree branches.

While the fire could've been caused by damage to the electrical equipment, lingering smoke at the time of the spark is also creating questions about vegetation being a root cause of the Bobcat Fire.

The Bobcat Fire began over a month ago, when it was sparked up on September 6. Firefighters are pictured tackling the blaze on September 23

A destroyed property continues to smoulder during the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills, California, on September 18

SCE reportedly experienced a 'relay operation' at 12.21pm on September 6, but smoke was reported approximately 11 minutes earlier.

As of Monday, the Bobcat Fire was 92 percent contained. It has burned over 115,000 acres, destroying 171 structures (87 residences) and damaging 47 more.

This is not the first wildfire in recent months that is being pinned on a potential equipment failure.

Cal Fire investigators are looking at a possibility utility issue stemming from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in the Zogg Fire, which killed four people and destroyed over 200 homes since sparking on September 27.

PG&E equipment failures caused a number of significant fires in 2017 and 2018, which killed over 100 people and destroyed at least 27,000 properties.

The utility company was forced to file for bankruptcy in the aftermath of those fires, which PG&E only recently emerged from.

Southern California Edison is one of the largest energy companies in Southern California, providing electricity for around 14 million customers.

Comments

EXCLUSIVE: From a $US13million mansion to a caravan: How the Australian wife of Il Divo singer has been 'forced' to live in a dodgy trailer park after a wildfire burned down their house during a bitter divorce battle

'Forced' into a 'mobile home park': Renee Izambard (nee Murphy) with her estranged husband, the suave Il Divo opera singer Sebastien Izambard An Il Divo opera singer's estranged Australian wife claims she was 'forced' to live in a caravan park after their $US12.95million Malibu mansion burned down in a wildfire days just after she filed for divorce. Details of one-time Sydney Sony Music executive Renee Izambard's new life after her messy split with French tenor Sebastien Izambard were laid bare in a lawsuit filed with a Californian court this week. Ms Izambard (nee Murphy) is suing insurer State Farm, her estranged husband, an insurance agent and up to 20 others, over an allegedly 'inadequate' policy which covered the couple's destroyed former Malibu home. Their five bedroom residence - described as a 'no expense spared ... oasis' - and its two guest houses went up in flames on November 8, 2018 during California's devastating Wo...

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...

EXCLUSIVE: Disgraced ex-congresswoman Katie Hill quietly settles divorce from 'abusive' husband after blaming him for exposing their 'throuple' sexual relationship with a young female campaign staffer

Disgraced Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill has quietly settled her divorce from husband Kenny Heslep after blaming him for exposing a ‘throuple’ sexual relationship they were having with a young female campaign staffer, DailyMail.com can reveal. Hill, 33, resigned from Congress last year after the publication of shocking nude photos of the politician cavorting with junior staffer Morgan Desjardins, who was 22 at the time, and an ethics probe was launched into her alleged affair with another aide. The freshman Democrat from California immediately accused her 'abusive' husband Heslep, 36, of trying to humiliate her and leaking the snaps to ruin her political career. But speaking to DailyMail.com about the divorce settlement, Heslep's lawyer said the former congresswoman's claims were 'all smoke and mirrors.' Disgraced Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill has quietly settled her divorce from husband Kenny Heslep after blaming him for exposing a ‘throuple’ sexual ...

Newsif Blog

Search This Blog