Fire puts spark in mayor’s fight for undergrounding utilities

Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said he would put more pressure on Southern California Edison officials to underground utility equipment sooner rather than later following Friday’s fire in Laguna Canyon.

“We can no longer risk the public safety of Laguna Beach by allowing above-ground utilities,” Whalen said in a news release. “We dodged a bullet last Friday thanks to favorable wind conditions and the extraordinary efforts of the Laguna Beach Fire Department and Orange County Fire Authority, but we can’t continue to roll the dice. A major fire disaster caused by power lines is only a matter of time.”

The fire started when two trees fell and struck a power line, releasing sparks that ignited brush.

The blaze charred 15 acres, but no structures were damaged. Crews remained at the location throughout the weekend to douse any remaining hot spots.

Whalen is requesting a meeting with Edison President Pedro Pizarro to discuss a citywide undergrounding plan.

“It is no longer safe for [Edison] to operate an above-ground utility system here,” Whalen said. “The city is willing to partner with Edison, but they should shoulder a substantial portion of the cost.”

Laguna public works officials estimate that 40% of utility equipment in the city has been placed underground, with a majority of costs shouldered by residents in various assessment districts.

Undergrounding all utility lines in the city could cost more than $150 million, the release says. A city-appointed task force led by Whalen and Councilwoman Toni Iseman identified as a top priority the undergrounding of wires along Laguna Canyon road — as well as ridding the area of utility poles.

In the last eight years at least four fires, including the most recent, involved above-ground utility equipment, according to the release.

Nearly all of Laguna Beach is in what is known in the state as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. More than 400 houses burned to the ground in October 1993 after a brush fire that began in Laguna Canyon spread.