🗣️ Community Voices from Altadena
Residents of Altadena have been vocal about the need to bury power lines to mitigate wildfire risks. Here are some sentiments expressed on public forums:
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“All powerlines should be UNDERGROUND. This is insane.” – Reddit user Reddit
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“Don’t listen to the people putting up barriers. I and many others fully support this. Even if it does take 10 years, it’s a battle worth fighting.” – Reddit user Reddit
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“As Altadena residents begin the process of rebuilding homes and businesses destroyed by the Eaton Fire, they deserve to feel safe.” – Change.org petition
April 12 – Southern California Edison (SCE) has announced plans to bury over 60 miles of power lines in and around Altadena—an area still reeling from January’s devastating Eaton Fire. The decision comes amid mounting pressure from residents and leaders who say enough is enough.
Altadena, nestled against the fire-prone San Gabriel Mountains, took a direct hit from the Jan. 7 blaze, which destroyed homes and forced evacuations. Investigators are still determining the fire’s cause, but SCE has already acknowledged that its equipment may have played a role. Now, in a high-stakes move to prevent future disasters, the utility is pledging a massive infrastructure overhaul.
The plan? Bury 150 miles of power lines in high-risk zones across Southern California—more than 60 of those miles right here in Altadena. The project carries a jaw-dropping $650 million price tag and will take years to complete. But to locals, it’s long overdue.
“This demonstrates a strong alignment with the safety needs of our community,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena.
She’s not alone. Residents have been flooding public meetings and online forums with one clear demand: put the power lines underground—now.
On a state feedback site, one Altadena commenter wrote, “Require SCE to bury ALL power lines.” Dozens more echoed the same urgency, citing the region’s high winds, dry brush, and history of fires as proof that overhead lines are simply too dangerous.
SCE’s move mirrors efforts up north, where Pacific Gas & Electric began burying lines after being blamed for a series of catastrophic fires. But there’s a catch—burying lines isn’t cheap. Estimates put the cost at $3 to $4 million per mile, and homeowners often shoulder some of that cost.
SCE says they’re exploring ways to offset the burden, including tapping into public or philanthropic funding. Still, the proposal must clear the California Public Utilities Commission, which will weigh cost recovery against ratepayer impact.
“Everybody knows we’ve got to rebuild the grid,” said Mark Toney of The Utility Reform Network. “But we need to do it smart, and we need to do it fairly.”
And Altadena residents? They’re watching closely. For them, this isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about safety, equity, and preventing the next spark before it turns into another wildfire nightmare.
