Initial cause of terrible forest fire in Los Angeles, USA

Investigators are beginning to determine the cause of the fires in a series of wildfire disasters in the Los Angeles area of ​​the United States and have gradually revealed many important information.

 The Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and killed at least 24 people, according to the latest preliminary updates. The fires have burned more than 40,000 acres. As of late last week, the Palisades Fire was 13 percent contained, the Eaton Fire was 27 percent contained, and the Hurst Fire was 95 percent contained.

The Washington Post of the United States has relied on information from many relevant sources to evaluate some of the causes related to the outbreak of fires that are ongoing or have been extinguished in Los Angeles.

The cause comes from burning fireworks on New Year's Eve.

The Palisades Fire, the largest of the three fires still burning, may have started with fireworks on New Year’s Eve, according to The Washington Post. Firefighters responded to a blaze north of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood shortly after New Year’s Eve that residents believe was caused by fireworks.

The Los Angeles Fire Department reported at 4:46 a.m. on January 1 that the fire had been contained after burning about 3 hectares and that cleanup and scene treatment activities would continue to ensure the fire does not flare up again.

The Washington Post used satellite imagery to identify the trail of the fire. The newspaper reported that satellite imagery taken shortly after the Palisades Fire began on the morning of January 7 showed the starting point of the recent fire superimposed on the trail of the New Year’s Eve fire.

“We know that fires will flare up again and go from smoldering to burning intensely,” said Michael Gollner, a professor of mechanical engineering and fire scientist at the University of California at Berkeley. “It’s certainly possible that something from the previous (New Year’s Eve) fire, within a week, could have flared up again and caused the flare-up (of the Palisades Fire).”

The cause came from a short circuit in the power transmission line.

Another possible cause of the fire was a downed power line that shorted out. Investigators are assessing whether this was the cause of the Eaton and Hurst fires.

Investigators are looking into whether a Southern California Edison transmission tower was the starting point of the Eaton Fire, which burned more than 12 acres in the hills near Pasadena, the Los Angeles Times reported.

However, on January 9, Southern California Edison filed a report with the California Public Utilities Commission stating that its analysis showed no power interruptions or anomalies in the 12 hours before the fire was reported and more than an hour after the fire was reported.

The investigation is also looking into whether a downed power line was involved in the Hurst Fire near Sylmar, Los Angeles’ northernmost neighborhood. The utility reported on Jan. 10 that it had found a downed power line at a tower near the fire, but it was unclear whether it occurred before or after the fire started.

Caused by people's intentional fire-setting behavior

Police believe the Kenneth Fire, which broke out in the San Fernando Valley on January 9 and has been fully contained, was intentionally set. A man was arrested in the Woodland Hills neighborhood shortly after the fire broke out.

The Los Angeles Times, citing a law enforcement email, reported that Juan Sierra, 33, was taken into custody by police after he was found attempting to start a fire. Ventura County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Monica Smith said Sierra had been identified as a suspect and person of interest in the Kenneth fire.

The investigation into the devastating wildfires that devastated the Los Angeles area could take months, if not longer, to complete and reach a conclusion on the official cause, many say.