Electrical grid anomalies surged in Los Angeles just before the eruption of three major wildfires this week, according to data analysis from a company specializing in electrical monitoring. Whisker Labs CEO Bob Marshall revealed to Fox News Digital that their network of approximately 14,000 sensors, known as "ting" sensors, detected a significant rise in electrical faults in the areas corresponding to the Eaton, Palisades, and Hurst fires.

These "ting" sensors, strategically placed in homes across Los Angeles, provide precise and accurate monitoring of the electrical grid, detecting faults often caused by tree branches contacting power lines, wind-blown wires colliding, or malfunctioning electrical equipment. Other potential triggers include sudden power surges or seismic activity. Strong Santa Ana winds were prevalent in Los Angeles at the time of the fires.

The data shared with Fox News Digital paints a concerning picture. In the Palisades area, the site of the largest fire, Whisker Labs recorded 63 faults in the two to three hours leading up to the fire's ignition, followed by an additional 18 faults in the hour it began. The Eaton Fire near Altadena saw 317 grid faults preceding ignition, while the Hurst Fire had approximately 230 recorded faults.

Marshall emphasized that while these faults generate sparks that can ignite dry vegetation, especially in strong winds, the data doesn't definitively link them as the direct cause of the wildfires. He noted that the power grid was not immediately shut down when the faults increased. The investigation into the fires' origin is ongoing.

Although Whisker Labs has engaged with utility companies about utilizing their data, it is not currently being shared for grid management. The primary function of the "ting" sensors is to alert homeowners of power surges, allowing them to take preventative measures against potential house fires. Marshall highlighted the effectiveness of this technology, claiming it can prevent up to 80% of potential house fires.

The "ting" sensors, equipped with artificial intelligence, continuously monitor electrical activity and transmit data to a cloud platform. When a fault is detected, homeowners receive a notification through a dedicated app, enabling them to contact an electrician for necessary repairs. This system, capable of taking 30 million electrical measurements per second, distinguishes between household faults and broader grid issues based on the number of sensors detecting the anomaly.

A report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) did not preemptively shut down power lines to mitigate fire risk, unlike other major Californian power companies. An LADWP spokesperson explained to the Journal that alternative safety protocols are in place, including disabling automatic power restoration after an outage, citing potential harm to emergency services from widespread preventative power outages.