5 things to know about the deadly Eaton Fire and faulty power lines : NPR

In January, the Eaton fire destroyed more than 9,000 buildings and led to 19 deaths in Los Angeles County. Estimates predict the fire caused billions of dollars in damages.

The U.S. Department of Justice and groups of victims have filed more than 40 lawsuits against Southern California Edison, the utility that powers the area. Some of those suits cite evidence that shows sparks and fire were seen shortly after 6 p.m. on high power transmission lines near Eaton Canyon. SoCal Edison has said that its equipment could have been associated with that ignition.

But Altadena was one of the neighborhoods most ravaged by the fire, and it's located miles away from Eaton Canyon. Altadena residents have long wondered whether something else might have started fires earlier in their neighborhood.

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