State says power lines ignited Witch fire
SAN DIEGO -- The state’s fire agency said Friday that sparking power lines ignited the largest of the wildfires that ravaged Southern California last month.
The Witch fire, which blew into the heart of north San Diego from chaparral-covered canyons to the east, killed two people, burned nearly 200,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Along the way, it merged with the smaller Guejito fire, which also was caused by power line sparks, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
State authorities previously blamed the Rice Canyon fire on downed power lines. It burned through 9,500 acres in a rural area near the San Diego County community of Fallbrook, destroying 206 homes and damaging avocado groves.
All three fires are in the service area of San Diego Gas & Electric Co., which serves 3.4 million customers in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
The company, a unit of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, says it adhered to regulations in maintaining the low-voltage power lines that caused the fires.
“We believe at the time of the fires our power lines were in compliance with all regulations,” said spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan.
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