A judge on Tuesday ordered Southern California Edison to preserve data, equipment and evidence related to the deadly Eaton Fire, a decision praised by attorneys suing the giant utility who suspect the blaze started from the base of a power tower caused.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ashfaq G. Chowdhury issued a ruling Tuesday morning granting a temporary restraining order filed by attorneys for an Altadena woman whose home was destroyed in a fire and is currently suing the utility company.

In their request, the attorneys asked the court to intervene and order Edison to withhold evidence over concerns the company would destroy evidence related to the fire.

The ruling is significant as California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigators focus their investigation on the slopes of Eaton Canyon and the base of Edison Tower, where residents captured video footage of the first flames of the destructive fire. The fire broke out on January 7.

In the motion, attorneys for Edelson PC argued that Edelson could destroy the equipment and possible evidence unless attorneys could immediately identify "every piece of evidence that must be preserved."

A spokesman for the utility did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a court filing, attorneys for Southern California Edison argued against the temporary restraining order, saying the company had been complying with requirements to preserve evidence. They said Edison has been retaining equipment in a square mile area near the suspected fire site in eastern Altadena and Eaton Canyon, recording and taking video and photos of equipment repairs and replacements in the area.

Edison documented repairs and replacements outside that "protected area," but argued in court documents that it was not necessary because the county and investigators investigating the cause of the fire did not indicate it was needed.

“The county has not expressed interest in any of SCE’s distribution facilities anywhere In Altadena," a court filing reads. "SCE is exceeding its duty to protect. SCE will not alter or remove equipment within the county's preliminary origin zone. "

The judge's ruling ordered Edison to consult with attorneys suing the company to determine the exact boundaries of the area where evidence should be preserved.

Attorneys suing Edison argued in asking the judge to intervene that the utility had destroyed equipment and evidence in the past in cases where electrical equipment was suspected of causing damaging fires.

"Utility companies have a disturbing history of exploiting the chaos during and after major fires to destroy or tamper with critical evidence," Edelson PC attorney Ali Moghaddas said in an email. "Today's court order sends a clear message The message: That doesn’t happen here.”

The Eaton Fire has burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed 9,416 structures and killed at least 17 people.

The company was not allowed into the site of the suspected fire until Jan. 16, but that day it was accompanied by lawyers suing the companies and investigators hired by the companies, court documents show.

Residents and homeowners began filing a lawsuit against Southern California Edison last week, claiming there is evidence the fire was caused by its electrical equipment.

According to court documents, there are at least 20 lawsuits filed against Edison related to the Eaton fire.

Fire officials have not released an official cause of the fire, and Edison plant officials said their data showed nothing unusual near the suspected site of the fire.

Under the judge's order, Edison must also turn over data about the towers to attorneys.