HOUSTON, March 13 (Reuters) - Southern California Edison

will begin its first close-up physical inspections of certain

power equipment under investigation for possible links to the

start of the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles early this year, Edison

International ( EIX ) CEO Pedro Pizarro told Reuters at the CERAWeek

conference in Houston on Thursday.

Several fires broke out across Los Angeles on Jan. 7,

claiming dozens of lives and destroying thousands of homes in

what is expected to be the most expensive natural disaster in

U.S. history.

While no official cause for the major fires has been

released, multiple lawsuits have claimed SCE power lines and

towers in the hills about the community of Altadena started one

of the blazes -- the Eaton Fire. Among those suing SCE are Los

Angeles County and the City of Pasadena.

SCE, which delivers power to about 15 million people as the

largest electric utility in Southern California, will send

workers up the Altadena-area towers starting on Monday. Other

inspections, including with drones, will also be deployed.

Government investigators, attorneys for fire victims and SCE

are separately, but in parallel, investigating the cause of the

Eaton Fire.

The official cause of the blaze, and whether negligence was

involved, is expected to determine what - if any - financial

consequences SCE will face.

Edison International ( EIX ) has said that a California-established

Wildfire Fund will protect its balance sheet, which Pizarro

reiterated on Thursday.