Eaton Fire: Radio Traffic Reveals Delays in Power Shutoff Requests
Table of Contents
- Eaton Fire: Radio Traffic Reveals Delays in Power Shutoff Requests
- When high winds and dry conditions whip up a wildfire, power lines with electricity running through them can cause problems by sparking or falling down. Wildfires are also spread and fed by other natural causes, like flying embers. But live power lines are dangerous for first responders on the ground — and they can start new fires quickly.
“If they spark an arc, if the wind’s blowing that spark and hits palm fronds that are all dried out, that’ll start a fire quick, especially when the winds are blowing,” said Sheila Kelliher, a fire captain with the LA County Fire Department. “It’s all it takes.
By the end of the day on January 8th, firefighters were asking SoCal Edison to shut off power to a second neighborhood — Altadena. Most of the 17 people who died in the Eaton Fire died ther.
At around 10 p.m., weather conditions in Altadena were risky.
“The combination of low humidity, dry fuels, and shifting winds has heightened the potential for spot fires and rapid expansion,” firefighters wrote in an incident- Q: Can you provide some context on how critical timely power shutoffs are in wildfire response?
- Q: Based on the radio traffic obtained by NPR, how would you assess the utility company’s response to shutting down power during the Eaton Fire?
- Q: How do you believe these delays impacted the firefighting efforts?
Days after the Eaton Fire ignited in Los Angeles, firefighters warned that power lines operated by Southern California Edison were live and sparking new fires, according to radio traffic obtained by NPR.
The radio communications also indicate the utility company failed to respond quickly to multiple requests from firefighters to shut off power and sent confusing and sometimes incorrect information to first responders battling the Eaton Fire, which ultimately claimed 17 lives and caused billions of dollars in damages.
This new audio evidence comes after video and voltage data have already linked transmission towers operated by SoCal Edison to the fire’s initial start on january 7th and multiple lawsuits have been filed claiming the company is liable for fire damages.
The Eaton Fire took over three weeks to fully contain, burning 14,000 acres and more than 10,000 structures. NPR downloaded and analyzed almost 100 hours of radio traffic between firefighters responding to the Eaton Fire from broadcastify.com, a live audio streaming platform. The audio suggests SoCal Edison’s work in affected areas during the fire played a role in slowing down firefighting efforts.
“I’d like to see if we can get Edison out here and have them assess, see what we can do about cutting power to everything north of Sierra Madre from Baldwin Avenue all the way to the west,” said a firefighter just after midnight on January 8th.
The Sierra Madre location the firefighter was referring to was located below the perimeter of the eaton Fire that morning, a firefighter operations map obtained by NPR shows. But socal edison wasn’t able to turn the power off right away.
“I just met wiht Edison’s reps. They’
When high winds and dry conditions whip up a wildfire, power lines with electricity running through them can cause problems by sparking or falling down. Wildfires are also spread and fed by other natural causes, like flying embers. But live power lines are dangerous for first responders on the ground — and they can start new fires quickly.
“If they spark an arc, if the wind’s blowing that spark and hits palm fronds that are all dried out, that’ll start a fire quick, especially when the winds are blowing,” said Sheila Kelliher, a fire captain with the LA County Fire Department. “It’s all it takes.
By the end of the day on January 8th, firefighters were asking SoCal Edison to shut off power to a second neighborhood — Altadena. Most of the 17 people who died in the Eaton Fire died ther.
At around 10 p.m., weather conditions in Altadena were risky.
“The combination of low humidity, dry fuels, and shifting winds has heightened the potential for spot fires and rapid expansion,” firefighters wrote in an incident
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Experts Reveal Delays and Miscommunications in Power Shutoff Requests During Eaton Fire
We recently sat down with fire science specialist Dr. Elizabeth Carter to discuss the ongoing inquiry into the Eaton Fire,which ravaged Los Angeles in january. Dr. carter provided valuable insights into the delays in power shutoff requests and how these issues impacted firefighting efforts.
Q: Can you provide some context on how critical timely power shutoffs are in wildfire response?
Dr. Elizabeth Carter: Absolutely. Timely power shutoffs are crucial in wildfire response. downed power lines or live wires can reignite embers, leading to new fires, especially in areas with dry conditions and high winds. These live wires pose a notable risk to firefighters and can hinder containment efforts. If power can be shut off quickly, it minimizes these risks.
Q: Based on the radio traffic obtained by NPR, how would you assess the utility company’s response to shutting down power during the Eaton Fire?
Dr. elizabeth Carter: from what we’ve heard in the radio traffic, the utility company’s response was not only slow but frequently provided confusing and incorrect details to the first responders. This lack of clarity can cause major delays and potentially endanger lives. Efficient dialog is crucial during emergencies, and the recorded incidents suggest a failure on multiple fronts.
Q: How do you believe these delays impacted the firefighting efforts?
Dr. Elizabeth Carter: Delays in shutoff requests undoubtedly slowed down firefighting operations.When live wires are present, firefighters can’t get as close to the fire as they need to, which hampers their ability to effectively extinguish the flames
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Experts Reveal Delays and Miscommunications in Power Shutoff Requests During Eaton Fire
We recently sat down with fire science specialist Dr. Elizabeth Carter to discuss the ongoing inquiry into the Eaton Fire,which ravaged Los Angeles in january. Dr. carter provided valuable insights into the delays in power shutoff requests and how these issues impacted firefighting efforts.
Q: Can you provide some context on how critical timely power shutoffs are in wildfire response?
Dr. Elizabeth Carter: Absolutely. Timely power shutoffs are crucial in wildfire response. downed power lines or live wires can reignite embers, leading to new fires, especially in areas with dry conditions and high winds. These live wires pose a notable risk to firefighters and can hinder containment efforts. If power can be shut off quickly, it minimizes these risks.
Q: Based on the radio traffic obtained by NPR, how would you assess the utility company’s response to shutting down power during the Eaton Fire?
Dr. elizabeth Carter: from what we’ve heard in the radio traffic, the utility company’s response was not only slow but frequently provided confusing and incorrect details to the first responders. This lack of clarity can cause major delays and potentially endanger lives. Efficient dialog is crucial during emergencies, and the recorded incidents suggest a failure on multiple fronts.
Q: How do you believe these delays impacted the firefighting efforts?
Dr. Elizabeth Carter: Delays in shutoff requests undoubtedly slowed down firefighting operations.When live wires are present, firefighters can’t get as close to the fire as they need to, which hampers their ability to effectively extinguish the flames