Firefighters in Los Angeles face water supply challenges amid raging wildfires
Los Angeles: Water hydrant issues have made it tough for firefighters battling wildfires in the area. A firefighter shared with Daily Express US that these problems have slowed down their efforts.
Lyndsey Lantz from the Los Angeles Fire Department mentioned that the flames took hold of Palisades, a pricey neighborhood where homes average around $4 million. She explained that the water system struggles in hilly areas, especially when the fire is intense.
“We had some water issues, especially on that first day,” Lantz said. The higher you go, the more gravity affects the water supply. With so much on fire, the tanks were emptied faster than they could be refilled.
Fire officials confirmed that the ongoing fire in Pacific Palisades has overwhelmed the water supply. They rely on gravity-fed systems, which are designed to keep hydrants filled. Even though the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power filled the tanks before the winds picked up, the fire’s scale was too much.
“You usually expect a house or two to catch fire, not whole neighborhoods,” Lantz noted. While they haven’t confirmed how many hydrants weren’t working, she pointed out that a lack of pressure was a big issue.
As of this morning, the fire is only 11 percent contained, and it has already caused significant damage. Over 2,500 firefighters from California and nearby states are on the scene, working in two-week shifts.
“This is what we call a deployment,” Lantz explained. Firefighters from all over the state and even other states have come to help out.
She also talked about how strong winds have made the situation worse. Initial gusts reached 50-60 mph, with some peaking at 80 mph, carrying embers far and starting new fires. “In that space, one fire could easily start another,” she said.
