Utilities pushed toward fire prevention as Edison is blamed for Thomas Fire

Pressure mounted on California utilities on March 13 to shift priorities to fire prevention, as investigators determined that Southern California Edison power lines sparked a major 2017 blaze that later resulted in a deadly mud flow.

A joint investigation of federal, state and local authorities found the Thomas Fire — like mega-fires last year and the year before in Northern California areas served by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. — was sparked by utility equipment.