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SoCal Edison power equipment caused the 2019 Easy Fire in Simi Valley

California Wildfires
Christian Monterrosa/AP
FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2019 file photo, smoke shrouds the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library during the Easy Fire in Simi Valley, Calif. The 1,800-acre Easy Fire ignited on Oct. 30, 2019 when an insulator attached to a Southern California Edison high-voltage transmission line swung into a steel power pole, the Ventura County Fire Department said in a press release, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/ Christian Monterrosa, File)
California Wildfires
Posted at 8:49 AM, Oct 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-23 11:49:33-04

We're learning what likely caused a wildfire in Southern California last year. Investigators are now saying electrical equipment owned and operated by Southern California Edison is to blame for sparking the Easy Fire, which threatened the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

The Ventura County Fire Department says an insulator attached to a high voltage power line swung into a steel power pole during high winds sparking a fire.

That blaze covered more than 1,800, injured three firefighters and damaged two buildings.

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WILDFIRE RESOURCES

ASSEMBLE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT

Put together your emergency supply kit long before a wildfire or other disaster occurs and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate.

Emergency Supply Kit Checklist:

  • Face masks or coverings
  • Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person
  • Map marked with at least two evacuation routes
  • Prescriptions or special medications
  • Change of clothing
  • Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • An extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight
  • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  • Sanitation supplies
  • Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
  • Don’t forget pet food and water!

Items to take if time allows:

  • Easily carried valuables
  • Family photos and other irreplaceable items
  • Personal computer information on hard drives and disks
  • Chargers for cell phones, laptops, etc.

Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed and handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night.