A final investigation by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Los Angeles County Fire has confirmed that an out-of-service Southern California Edison transmission tower sparked the devastating Eaton Fire in January 2025. The blaze killed at least 19 people, destroyed nearly 9,000 structures and burned more than 14,000 acres across Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and La Cañada Flintridge, making it one of the most destructive fires in the region's recent history.

According to the report, two electrical arcing events occurred in quick succession at the tower near the Eaton Wash, causing burning material to fall into dry vegetation below, which ignited roughly 12 seconds later. The fire took 24 days to fully contain, finally being brought under control on 31 January 2025. Edison had already acknowledged its equipment was a likely ignition source in earlier regulatory filings, and the utility now faces lawsuits from federal prosecutors and hundreds of affected residents. Numerous historic buildings used as film and TV locations were also lost, including the Altadena Town & Country Club and the house featured in the series Hacks.