A law firm in California shared a video that appears to show the exact moment the devastating Eaton fire started in Los Angeles. The video, which was taken from a gas station security camera just after 6 p.m. PT on January 7, shows sparking powerlines in the distance.
As the sparks hit the ground, you can see a fire begin to ignite. Within ten minutes, the entire hillside was on fire as the blaze quickly spread.
"We've obtained video that indicates the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles started after an apparent arc on SoCal Edison lines. We're back in Court for a hearing tomorrow fighting to make sure that SoCal Edison keeps all the evidence that we will put before a jury in this case," Edelson PC wrote on X.
The Eaton fire torched over 14,000 acres and killed 17 people. It destroyed over 9,400 structures and left over 1,000 structures damaged.
"It’s only by sheer luck this footage exists, as SCE’s very first move was to plot the destruction or alteration of key evidence, including evidence that at trial we believe will prove why this arcing occurred. Instead of embracing transparency, SCE has misled the public—disingenuously suggesting they had de-energized the relevant lines and even stooping so low as to blame a homeless encampment for the devastation," Jay Edelson, founder of Edelson PC said in a statement.
You can watch the video below: