Fire hydrants in Los Angeles ran dry during wildfires, raising concerns about water supply and infrastructure issues in the area
The situation sparked a lot of criticism, including from President-elect Trump. He blamed California’s Governor Gavin Newsom for not signing a water restoration declaration. But experts say the issue is more about local infrastructure than any political decisions.
California officials pointed out that the water supply problems stem from the aging infrastructure. They also clarified that there was no such declaration Trump mentioned. Newsom’s team called Trump’s claims “pure fiction” and accused him of politicizing the disaster.
After the fires, Newsom ordered an investigation into the water supply issues. Reports showed that a key reservoir in Pacific Palisades was empty and out of service when the fires hit. This reservoir had been offline for repairs since February, which left firefighters in a tough spot.
Janisse Quiñones from the LA Department of Water and Power explained that urban water systems aren’t built to handle the demands of wildfires. During the fires, water demand skyrocketed, draining tanks that usually help maintain pressure for hydrants.
Experts described the situation as an “infrastructure bottleneck.” The water system is complex, and when the fires hit, it just couldn’t keep up. Even though the Santa Ynez Reservoir was empty, it might not have completely solved the problem.
Newsom mentioned that additional water trucks were sent to help fight the fires. However, the situation was worsened by strong winds that prevented air support from dropping water on the flames.
Despite Trump’s claims, southern California has enough water. Most reservoirs are full, thanks to recent rainfall. The region gets its water from various sources, and experts confirmed there are no shortages.
In the end, the delta smelt issue Trump brought up is unrelated to the fire hydrant problems. The water challenges in LA are more about local infrastructure than anything else. The region has a solid water supply, but the systems need to be better equipped for emergencies like wildfires.
