California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom ordered an independent investigation into fire hydrant shortages after the Los Angeles fires.
“I am calling for an independent investigation into the reported loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the unavailability of water supply from the Santa Ynez Reservoir,” Newsom said.
“We need answers to prevent something like this from happening again, and we have every resource available to fight these devastating fires,” he said.
Newsom’s letter was addressed to Janice Quiñones, a highly paid bureaucrat who oversees fire hydrant maintenance.
NEW: I am calling for an independent investigation into the reported loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and unavailability of water supply from the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
We need answers to prevent something like this from happening again, and we have every resource at our disposal… pic.twitter.com/R0vq0wwZph
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 10, 2025
A local news reporter has captured shocking footage of firefighters encountering a dry hydrant as a structure goes up in flames during the Los Angeles fires.
clock:
A fire hydrant being used by firefighters emptied on Luckman Lane at around 4.45pm on Tuesday. You can hear what sounds like air being pushed out, but no water. #PalisadesWildfire #Palisade Fire #Pacific Palisades pic.twitter.com/09e6FRrcIM
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) January 8, 2025
On the ground, firefighters reported that several fire hydrants in the area had run dry, severely hampering efforts to put out the inferno.
“There’s no water in the hydrants,” said Rick Caruso, owner of Palisades Village Shopping Center. times. “The firefighters are there, but there’s nothing they can do. Neighborhoods are burning, houses are burning, businesses are burning. … That should never happen.”
Reports have surfaced that Los Angeles County employees responsible for this simple job of overseeing fire hydrant maintenance are earning a staggering $750,000 a year.
Janice Quiñones “knew about empty reservoirs and broken fire hydrants” months before Tuesday’s wildfire.
Additionally, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced an additional $49 million in budget cuts to the already cash-strapped Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) days before wildfires hit the city, according to a leaked memo. He reportedly requested.
The memo, dated Jan. 6, just a day before the Palisades Fire tore through the region, proposed closing 16 fire departments in the city and reducing resources vital to fighting wildfires and responding to emergencies. I was doing it.
