SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A newly released state report reaffirms that San Diego Gas & Electric Co. is to blame for the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice fires that ravaged North County last fall.

It also finds for the first time that Cox Communications contributed to starting the Guejito Fire.

The report, which was prepared by Cal Fire and is available at fire.ca.gov, blames a mixture of faulty SDG&E power lines and a loose Cox support cable.

According to the report:

-- The Witch Creek Fire was sparked when two arching power lines belonging to SDG&E came in contact with each other in the wind.

-- The Guejito Fire was sparked when another SDG&E power line came in contact with a loose fiber-optic line belonging to Cox Cable.

-- The Rice Fire was sparked by a downed power line.

In response to the report, which was released late Wednesday night, SDG&E issued a statement that blames "hurricane-force Santa Ana winds" and firefighting agencies.

"Many, including the San Diego County civil grand jury, have questioned the adequacy, timeliness and coordination of firefighting resources among agencies at the local, state and federal level -- or whether governments and agencies could have done more to control or prevent the fires and protect public safety," the utility's statement says.

The Witch Creek Fire began around 12:30 p.m. last Oct. 21 near Highway 78 and Santa Ysabel. It later merged with the Guejito Fire, which began around 1 a.m. last Oct. 22 near Highway 78 and Bandy Canyon Road.

Combined, the Witch Creek and Guejito fires burned 197,990 acres. A couple was killed when flames overtook their home, 40 firefighters were injured and 1,141 homes were destroyed. Another 77 homes were damaged.

The Rice Fire began around 4:15 a.m. Oct. 22 on Rice Canyon Road, northwest of the Pala Indian Reservation. Nearly 9,500 acres burned and more than 200 homes were damaged or destroyed in that blaze.

SDG&E is facing several lawsuits stemming from the fires, including one filed by City Attorney Michael Aguirre seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages and to recoup costs to fight the blazes.

Aguirre called Thursday on SDG&E to do more to prevent its equipment from sparking wildfires.

"While we filed the lawsuit to hold SDG&E accountable for the devastation, we also want them to take immediate action to prevent another firestorm such as using new technology that would automatically turn off the power when electrical lines snap," Aguirre said.

"SDG&E must also do a better job at brush management, clearing shrubbery away from utility substations and transmission lines," he said.

SDG&E said it is "committed" to making electrical systems safer in firestorm conditions by replacing wood poles with steel ones, expanding aerial inspections, changing procedures during hot, dry weather and partnering with San Diego-area fire agencies.

"SDG&E strives to maintain and operate our system safely," the SDG&E statement says. "No electrical power system can be protected 100 percent from the kind of severe weather conditions we experienced last fall."

Cox Communications did not immediately respond to the report.

To read the full SDG&E Statement

To read all of the CalFire reports click here.