As wildfires continue to devastate California's hillside communities, firefighters are facing challenges with water supply systems that are struggling to meet the high demands of their efforts.
In Pacific Palisades, located at the far end of the municipal water system, hydrants experienced temporary water shortages early Wednesday due to reduced water flow caused by decreasing pipe sizes from the main line. This raised concerns among residents and officials as conflicting explanations about water availability emerged.
To address the issue, three massive storage tanks, each with a capacity of one million gallons, were installed to support neighborhood hydrants. However, these tanks sporadically ran dry throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, leading to a drop in water pressure in the hydrants.
Janisse Quiñones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, explained that the high water consumption from firefighting efforts exceeded the system's ability to replenish the tanks quickly enough, causing water shortages in the area.
Despite efforts to prepare in advance, Erik Scott from the Los Angeles Fire Department noted that the extreme demand for water during the wildfires surpassed expectations, impacting water availability at higher elevations and limiting the replenishment of water tanks in those areas.
City officials emphasized that the water supply issue was unique to the Palisades due to the intense demand from firefighting operations. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass defended the response, stating that the unprecedented scale of the wildfires was a significant factor in the challenges faced by the fire hydrant system.
Fire Chief Kristin Crowley assured residents that firefighters are trained to manage water shortages by utilizing alternative water sources such as pools, ponds, and water tenders carrying thousands of gallons. Mike Lopez, an executive board member of California Professional Firefighters, highlighted the strain on the water system caused by the massive water consumption during the wildfires.
Officials reported that the situation regarding hydrants in the Palisades area began to stabilize on Thursday, providing some relief amid ongoing firefighting efforts.
