Investigators are actively exploring various potential ignition sources connected to the **devastating wildfires** that have tragically claimed at least 10 lives and rendered thousands of homes and businesses in the Los Angeles area homeless. In the affluent neighborhood of **Pacific Palisades**, known to be home to numerous Hollywood personalities such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Billy Crystal, the spark of the **wind-driven blaze** has been traced to an area behind a house on Piedra Morada Drive, which is situated above a densely vegetated arroyo. While **lightning** is frequently regarded as the leading cause of wildfires in the U.S., the National Fire Protection Association reports, that possibility has been swiftly eliminated as no lightning strikes were recorded in either the Palisades or the area around the Eaton fire, which originated further east in Los Angeles County, destroying hundreds of homes along its destructive path.

The two leading alternatives, according to investigators, are fires set intentionally and those sparked by **utility lines**. John Lentini, a respected fire analysis expert who has looked into numerous significant fires in California, including the notorious **Oakland Hills fire** of 1991, noted, “This was once a small fire. People will focus on where the fire started, determine the origin and look around the origin and determine the cause.” As of now, there remains no formal indication of arson or utility lines being linked as sources of the current blazes.

Electric utility companies are mandated to notify the **California Public Utilities Commission** when they become aware of “electric incidents potentially associated with a wildfire,” as stated by the commission’s communications director, Terrie Prosper. The CPUC then initiates an inquiry to ascertain any potential violations of state law. The **2017 Thomas Fire**, among the largest in California’s recorded history, was attributed to Southern California Edison power lines making contact under high wind conditions, resulting in two fatalities and devastating losses across more than **440 square miles**. As of this current fire outbreak, no reports have emerged on the CPUC website that tracks such electrical incidents.

Besides lightning, arson, and utility lines, other common **ignition sources** include activities involving debris burning and fireworks. Fires can be triggered by an extensive variety of factors, including accidental incidents. A notable instance in 2021 involved a couple's gender reveal party, which inadvertently ignited a fire that scorched **approximately 90 square kilometers**, destroying several homes and tragically claiming the life of firefighter Charlie Morton.

As of Thursday, the Eaton and Palisades fires are still ablaze with minimal containment efforts reported. Although winds have decreased, rain remains unanticipated, causing flames to persist across dry landscapes. “It’s going to go out when it runs out of fuel, or when the weather stops," Lentini remarked. "They’re not going to put that thing out until it’s ready to go out.” For more detailed information, refer to the articles from AP News and South China Morning Post.