Lack of Water Exacerbates LA Fires, Among Other Factors
According to various news stories, the catastrophic fires currently raging through the greater Los Angeles region have led to 20% of fire hydrants running dry, resulting in firefighters discontinuing their use. The extraordinarily high water demands needed to fight the fires plaguing the LA area have drained storage facilities and lowered water pressure in the regional patchwork of hydrant systems. Some have blamed Los Angeles’ current water crisis on mismanagement at city and state levels, but others, such as Marty Adams, former general manager at the LA Department of Water and Power, blame Mother Nature. Adams told the press, “We are looking at a situation that is just completely not part of any domestic water system design.” Interviewed by the Los Angeles Times about the dire situation, ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy Director of Research Kathryn Sorensen explained that the fires engulfing the city have strained the network of water systems beyond capacity and were engineered for fighting smaller-scale fires rather than large, long-lasting fires of this extreme. Environmental factors, including dry climate and high-speed winds, created a much more difficult situation and conditions that seriously hampered firefighting efforts. The article also quoted Sorensen as saying, “Given the known risk of wildfire in these hillsides, it is fair to question whether more water storage should have been added in previous years and months.” Another complication, according to an NPR podcast, was contamination of local tap water caused by the fires, which prompted the LA Department of Water and Power and other utilities to issue drinking water safety advisories.