What sparked the California wildfires? Investigators explore options – NBC Los Angeles

Investigators are considering a number of possible ignition sources for the huge fires that killed at least 10 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in the Los Angeles area.

In hilly, upscale Pacific Palisades, home to Hollywood stars like Jamie Lee Curtis and Billy Crystal, who lost homes in the blaze, officials have located the origin of the windswept blaze behind a home on Piedra Morada Drive, which sits above a densely wooded forest Arroyo.

Although lightning is the most common source of fires in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association, investigators were quick to rule it out. There were no reports of lightning in the Palisades area or surrounding areas of the Eaton Fire, which broke out in eastern Los Angeles County and also destroyed hundreds of homes.

The next two most common causes are intentionally started fires and fires started by utility lines.

John Lentini, owner of Scientific Fire Analysis in Florida, who has studied large fires in California, including the Oakland Hills fire in 1991, said the size and scope of the fire does not change the approach to determining the cause.

“This used to be a small fire,” Lentini said. “People will focus on the location where the fire started, determine the origin, look around and determine the cause.”

To date, there have been no official indications of arson in any of the fires, and utility lines have not yet been identified as the cause.

Utilities must report to the California Public Utilities Commission when they learn of “electrical incidents that may be related to a wildfire,” Terrie Prosper, the commission’s communications director, said by email. CPUC staff then investigates whether there were any violations of state law.

The 2017 Thomas Fire, one of the largest fires in the state’s history, was sparked by Edison power lines in Southern California coming into contact during high winds, according to investigators. The fire killed two people and charred more than 440 square miles (1,140 square kilometers), according to the investigation led by the Ventura County Fire Department.

Pictures: Wildfires in California are raging in Los Angeles County

To date, no such reports regarding the current fires have been posted on the CPUC website, which tracks such reports.

While lightning, arson and utility lines are the most common causes, debris fires and fireworks are also common causes.

But fires are caused by countless causes, including accidents.

In 2021, a couple’s gender reveal stunt sparked a large fire that burned nearly 36 square miles (about 90 square kilometers) of land, destroyed five homes and 15 other buildings, and claimed the life of firefighter Charlie Morton.

The Eaton and Palisades fires were still burning Thursday with little to no containment. Winds died down but no rain was forecast as flames spread for miles across dry countryside.

“It will go out when the fuel runs out or when the weather stops,” Lentini said. “They won’t put this thing out until it’s ready to go out.”

A 30-year Army veteran compares the devastation of the Palisades Fire to that of a war zone. Robert Kovacik reports for NBC4 News on Thursday, January 9, 2025.